In vitro induction of potato tuberization by organic acids

Potato microtubers are usually induced in media containing growth regulators, typically cytokinins and growth retardants. However, since these substances may imbalance the physiology of the cultured explants and cause adverse carry over effects on the subsequent performance of the microtubers, the potential acid-induction of in vitro-mass tuberization was investigated as an alternative. For this purpose, a range of explant types (stolons, single-node or apex-containing multinodal sections), organic acids (acetic, propionic, ascorbic, acetylsalicylic or salicylic acid), and photoperiods (continuous dark, 8 or 16 h photoperiod) were established. Gellified medium or raft membranes on liquid medium were also tested. Although variations due to explant type, photoperiod, organic acid supplemented, and medium type were found, all organic acids tested under the different experiments caused tuberization. Multiple tuber formation or bigger tubers did not develop on multinodal explants. In terms of tuberization rate and mean tuber weight, gellified medium performed better than liquid medium with rafts. The recently established role of the salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids on tuberization is corroborated by our system. The results with the acetic, propionic and ascorbic acids show that in vitro hormone-free tuberization can be easily and rapidly achieved.