Potato Research (2006) 49:167-176
DOT 10.1007/x11540-006-9015-0
Application of Soluble Chitosan in vitro and in the Greenhouse
to Increase Yield and Seed Quality of Potato Minitubers
Britta Kowalsld•Felipe Jimenez Terry•
Lidcay Herrera•Daniel Agramonte Peiialver
Received: 14 October 2005 /Accepted: 4 December 2006/
Published online: 13 February 2007
O') EAPR 2007
Abstract The aim of this work was to investigate whether the application of soluble chitosan
in potato micropropagation can improve microplant quality in vitro, help acclimatisation ex
vitro, and increase yield and seed quality of minitubers. Potato cv. Desiree microplants were
treated in vitro with soluble chitosan added to the semisolid tissue culture medium in different
concentrations. Microplants were subsequently transferred to the greenhouse and sprayed with
chitosan solutions or remained unsprayed. Untreated microplants were also established ex vitro
and sprayed with chitosan, or left unsprayed as a control. Morphological and physiological
parameters of plant growth were assessed in vitro and ex vitro. Plantlet quality was evaluated
using a ranking system. Minitubers derived from greenhouse plantlets were planted in the field
in subtropical conditions, and growth and yield parameters evaluated. The chitosan
concentration most beneficial to the in vitro growth of microplants varied between years. In
treatments with the best in vitro growth, minituber number and yield in the greenhouse was also
increased. Foliar chitosan application at the acclimatisation phase stabilised the effect of in vitro
treatment on yield parameters. The seed quality of minitubers derived from chitosan treatments
in vitro alone and in combination with foliar treatment at acclimatisation was improved, giving
rise to field plants with increased tuber numbers and yields. The combination of chitosan in vitro
and foliar application during the acclimatisation phase ex vitro had a greater effect on minituber
seed quality than the concentration applied in vitro.
Keywords micropropagation•Solanum tubero.sum L
B. Kowalski(皿)•F. J. Terry•L. Herrera•D. A. Penalver
Institute for Land Use, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
e-mail: britta.kowalski@auf.uni-rostock.de
B. Kowalski•F. J. Terry•L. Herrera•D. A. Penalver
Institute of Plant Biotechnology, University of Santa Clara,
Carretera Camajuani km 3.5, Villa Clara, Cuba
】6R
Potato Research (2006) 49:167-176
lntrnductinn
Micropropagation offers a method to produce healthy potato seed from disease free
microplants (plantlets propagated in vitro) provided the cost intensive process can be made
efficient by producing high and stable yields and reliable seed quality to lower seed costs. The
main problem in commercial micropropagation are the stresses which tissue culture conditions
impose on microplants through high osmoticity, abnormal mineral nutrition, unusual
hormonal treatment, high relative humidity and accumulation of gasses such as ethylene,
and the mechanical injury through dissection (Cassells and Walsh 1994; Gaspar et al. 2002;
DOT 10.1007/x11540-006-9015-0
Application of Soluble Chitosan in vitro and in the Greenhouse
to Increase Yield and Seed Quality of Potato Minitubers
Britta Kowalsld•Felipe Jimenez Terry•
Lidcay Herrera•Daniel Agramonte Peiialver
Received: 14 October 2005 /Accepted: 4 December 2006/
Published online: 13 February 2007
O') EAPR 2007
Abstract The aim of this work was to investigate whether the application of soluble chitosan
in potato micropropagation can improve microplant quality in vitro, help acclimatisation ex
vitro, and increase yield and seed quality of minitubers. Potato cv. Desiree microplants were
treated in vitro with soluble chitosan added to the semisolid tissue culture medium in different
concentrations. Microplants were subsequently transferred to the greenhouse and sprayed with
chitosan solutions or remained unsprayed. Untreated microplants were also established ex vitro
and sprayed with chitosan, or left unsprayed as a control. Morphological and physiological
parameters of plant growth were assessed in vitro and ex vitro. Plantlet quality was evaluated
using a ranking system. Minitubers derived from greenhouse plantlets were planted in the field
in subtropical conditions, and growth and yield parameters evaluated. The chitosan
concentration most beneficial to the in vitro growth of microplants varied between years. In
treatments with the best in vitro growth, minituber number and yield in the greenhouse was also
increased. Foliar chitosan application at the acclimatisation phase stabilised the effect of in vitro
treatment on yield parameters. The seed quality of minitubers derived from chitosan treatments
in vitro alone and in combination with foliar treatment at acclimatisation was improved, giving
rise to field plants with increased tuber numbers and yields. The combination of chitosan in vitro
and foliar application during the acclimatisation phase ex vitro had a greater effect on minituber
seed quality than the concentration applied in vitro.
Keywords micropropagation•Solanum tubero.sum L
B. Kowalski(皿)•F. J. Terry•L. Herrera•D. A. Penalver
Institute for Land Use, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
e-mail: britta.kowalski@auf.uni-rostock.de
B. Kowalski•F. J. Terry•L. Herrera•D. A. Penalver
Institute of Plant Biotechnology, University of Santa Clara,
Carretera Camajuani km 3.5, Villa Clara, Cuba
】6R
Potato Research (2006) 49:167-176
lntrnductinn
Micropropagation offers a method to produce healthy potato seed from disease free
microplants (plantlets propagated in vitro) provided the cost intensive process can be made
efficient by producing high and stable yields and reliable seed quality to lower seed costs. The
main problem in commercial micropropagation are the stresses which tissue culture conditions
impose on microplants through high osmoticity, abnormal mineral nutrition, unusual
hormonal treatment, high relative humidity and accumulation of gasses such as ethylene,
and the mechanical injury through dissection (Cassells and Walsh 1994; Gaspar et al. 2002;