Influence of Node Number and Orientation of Explants on in Vitro Growth and Development of Potato

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the most important food crops in the world which can be used in tissue culture techniques, ranging from in vitro propagation via shoot cultures to regeneration of whole plants from protoplasts. The study was undertaken to determine the influence of node number (single or double) and its orientation (horizontal or vertical) on different growth parameters of potato varieties (Kufri Bahar, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Sindhuri and Kufri Chandramukhi). Six to eight cuttings of double node and single node were inserted vertically and horizontally per bottle at an equilateral distance in MS media without any growth regulators. The study revealed that node number, explants orientation, potato varieties, and their interaction had significant effect on different morphological characters viz., microplant height, number of leaves, nodes, roots as well as dry weight.