Propagation and tuberization of potato bud clusters from bioreactor culture

Summary Single node stem segments fromin vitro potato shoots cultured in liquid medium in the presence of ancymidol (23.4 μM) developed into bud clusters in either shaken flasks or bioreactor cultures. Buds on the clusters developed tubers after subculture to a tuber induction medium with 23.2 μM kinetin, 19.5 μM ancymidol, and 6-8% sucrose. The number of tubers per cluster and their size were higher in agar induction medium on top of which a second layer of liquid medium was added, than in liquid shake or bioreactor cultures. The highest increase in tuber size (i.e., 720 mg fresh weight after 7 weeks), was obtained in agar cultures flushed twice with liquid tuber induction medium. The potential of bioreactor cultures for potato bud proliferation and enhanced tuber development in double layer agar-liquid cultures is discussed.