Research Article
Miheretu Fufa and Mulugeta Dir
Abstract
Two potato varieties namely, ‘Hunde’ and ‘Ararsa’ were tested for their microtuber induction under five levels of sucrose (40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 gl-1) in completely randomized design with 2×5 factorial combinations. The objective was to determine optimum concentration of sucrose for microtuber induction. In both varieties, among the five concentrations of sucrose, MS medium supplemented with 60 gl-1 sucrose exhibited a better response than the other concentrations in mean values of microtuber number, diameter, and weight and was found optimum. Accordingly, this medium produced, after 42.57 ± 0.58 days of culture, an average value of (1.97 ± 0.02) microtuber number, (3.60 ± 0.04 mm) microtuber diameter, and (0.08 ± 0.002 g) weight of microtuber in the variety Ararsa. On the other hand, it gave, after 35.67 ± 0.58 days of culture, mean value of (2.90 ± 0.031) microtuber number, (2.95 ± 0.01 mm) microtuber diameter, and (0.06 ± 0.001 g) weight of microtuber in the variety Hunde.