GROWTH AND YIELD OF POTATO PLANTS DEVELOPED FROM IN VITRO PLANTLETS IN NETHOUSE

Abstract

The study was carried out at Central Potato Research Institute, Campus, Modipuram, India, from 2004-05 to 2007-08 to assess the performance of in vitro plantlets of nine potato cultivars. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications in a insect proof nethouse. Significantly highest survival of in vitro plantlets was observed in plantlets of cv. Kufri Sadabahar, Kufri Chipsona-3 and Kufri Bahar. The higher growth parameters such as plant height, number of compound leaves per plant, number of stems per plant and canopy cover at varying intervals were recorded in plants of cv. Kufri Sadabahar, Kufri Chipsona-3 and Kufri Chipsona-1. Cultivars Kufri Anand and Kufri Chipsona-3 had the highest number of tubers per plant and per unit area, whereas the lowest figures were recorded in plantlets of cv. Kufri Sadabahar. Tuber yield per plant as well as per unit area, mean tuber weight and harvest index were significantly higher in cv. Kufri Sadabahar compared to that in other cultivars.