The use of image analysis to study developmental variation in micropropagated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants

Potato leaf morphology changes during plant development with the phase shif t from vegetative growth to flowering. Image analysis can detect difference s in leaf morphology and has been used here to distinguish differences in l eaf morphology between potato crops derived from seed tubers and minitubers and between crops derived from different micropropagation protocols. Furth er, leaf shape parameters can be used to determine the relative maturity of crops. This finding is of economic importance since differences in plant d evelopment, for example delayed flowering, are associated with yield parame ters. It is hypothesised that image analysis of established microplants can be used as an early evaluation of micropropagation protocols for potato.