PRE-BASIC SEED POTATO PRODUCTION IN  AEROPONIC CULTURES

Khalil, M. M.; Hamed, A. H.

doi:10.21608/mjppf.2020.171479

PRE-BASIC SEED POTATO PRODUCTION IN AEROPONIC CULTURES

Document Type : original papers

Authors

M. M. Khalil ¹
A. H. Hamed ²

¹ Potato and Vegetatively Propagated Vegetables Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.

² Virus and Phytoplasma Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/mjppf.2020.171479

Abstract

The current study was carried out to investigate Pre-Basic Seed Potato Production in soilless cultures under Egyptian conditions. Furthermore, the study investigated the possibility of plantlets direct acclimatization of three potato varieties in Aeroponic culture system comparing with substrate culture system (peat moss and vermiculite 3:1 v/v). Also, the growth and the yield of three cultivars (Diamant, Lady Rosetta and Spunta) were compared. Aeroponics showed better survival rate and promising method for acclimatization of potato plantlets ex vitro. Moreover, Varietal differences were noticed between the three tested varieties. The best response as survival rate, stem length and leaf area were observed by Spunta followed by Lady Rosette while Diamant came in the last place. However, Diamant produced the highest plant dry matter. Aeroponic system gave higher minituber number per plant while substrates gave higher average minituber weight. The obtained results recommend the use of Aeroponic culture system in acclimatization of in vitro potato plantlets and minitubers to be introduced in pre-basic seed programs in Egypt.

Keywords