Optimized in vitro micropropagation and microtuber production in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through apical buds using hormone regulation and tissue culture techniques

Potato is an essential crop worldwide, and optimizing micropropagation techniques is important for enhancing germplasm conservation and large-scale production. This study focuses on the in vitro propagation of two potato varieties, Agata and Fianna, emphasizing optimizing sterilization protocols, shoot induction, rooting, and microtuber production. Apical buds from healthy, disease-free plants were selected as explants. These buds were surface-sterilized using 70% ethanol and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with Tween-20. The explants were excised from tuber sprouts and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators, including benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 0.10–0.40 mg/L, gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0.20–1.00 mg/L, and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 0.01 and 0.04 mg/L to promote root development. The study also explored the effects of these hormonal treatments on shoot induction, proliferation, and rooting. Significant differences were observed between the two varieties regarding oxidation, contamination, and aseptic conditions, with Fianna demonstrating better resistance to oxidation and contamination than Agata. Shoot multiplication was most efficient with BAP concentrations of 0.40 mg/L for Fianna and 0.30 mg/L for Agata. Root induction was maximized with higher sucrose concentrations (110 g/L) and GA3 (1.00 mg/L) for Agata, while moderate concentrations of these compounds produced optimal results for Fianna. Microtuber formation was most successful with moderate sucrose (80–100 g/L) and GA3 (0.25–0.75 mg/L) concentrations. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing tissue culture practices for potato propagation, enhancing both microtuber production and the overall efficiency of potato production systems.