Enhancing In Vitro Regeneration in Three Sweet Potato Genotypes: Interplay Between Disinfectant, Explant Age, and Genotype

Regenerating sweet potato from field-derived plant material requires careful management of several critical factors, including the effectiveness of the disinfectant, the age of the explant, and the genotype used. In this context, establishing a reliable aseptic protocol is essential for successful in vitro culture. This study aimed to assess the effects of two disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite and mercuric chloride), three sweet potato genotypes (Nakabo, Boyapleu, and Irene), and three explant ages (2, 3, and 4 weeks) on clean culture establishment and regeneration efficiency from nodal explants. The findings revealed that regeneration success is significantly influenced by the type and concentration of disinfectant, explant age, and genotype. Treatment with 10% sodium hypochlorite markedly reduced contamination, achieving clean culture and regeneration rates of 75.72 ± 3.36% and 86.83 ± 3.02%, respectively, regardless of explant age. In contrast, higher concentrations of mercuric chloride induced necrosis in the explants. The highest clean culture rate (93.82 ± 1.16%) was observed in 3-week-old explants, which also showed a regeneration rate of 54.93 ± 3.19%. Furthermore, the Boyapleu and Irene genotypes demonstrated good suitability for in vitro culture, whereas the Nakabo genotype performed poorly under the tested conditions.