EFFECTS OF CULTURE DENSITY ON GROWTH AND IN VITRO TUBERIZATION CAPACITY OF POTATO PLANTLETS
In vitro plantlets of four varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown at different plant densities to study their effects on growth and microtuber yield. The responses of the cultivars to plant density, as expressed by changes in development characteristics, especially stem length and leaf area, were different. The time of tuber initiation was earlier at higher plantlet densities for all cultivars. The microtuber number per plantlet was not affected by the plantlet density. The highest number of well-sized (≯4 mm) microtubers per jar could be harvested from the higher plantlet densities (30–40 plantlets per jar). In addition to good yield, the microtubers were uniform in these treatments, so they appear to be economical.