PROPAGATION AND TUBERIZATION OF POTATO BUD CLUSTERS FROM BIOREACTOR CULTURE

Single node stem segments from in vitro potato shoots cultured in liqu id medium in the presence of ancymidol (23.4 mu M) developed into bud clusters in either shaken flasks or bioreactor cultures. Buds on the c lusters developed tubers after subculture to a tuber induction medium with 23.2 mu M kinetin, 19.5 mu M ancymidol, and 6-8% sucrose. The num ber 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, tha n in liquid shake or bioreactor cultures. The highest increase in tube r size (i.e., 720 mg fresh weight after 7 weeks), was obtained in agar cultures flushed twice with liquid tuber induction medium. The potent ial of bioreactor cultures for potato bud proliferation and enhanced t uber development in double layer agar-liquid cultures is discussed.