A procedure for in vitro evaluation of potato varieties using general plant growth parameters

Presented in this paper is a procedure in which meristem tips (0.02 mm) of seventeen recently introduced potato varieties from the International Potato Center (IPC) and a local variety (Sequoia) from PNG were micropropagated and evaluated in vitro based on general Plant Growth Parameters (PGP; shoots, roots, leaves, nodes and height). Using this procedure, the study was able to place the tested varieties into three potentially diverse genetic groups. LSD mean separations also showed highly significant differences (p < 0.05) among the evaluated parameters; showing the differential genetic variations that exist among these varieties. Regression analysis further indicated that shoot has strong influence on general pattern of plant growth, and coincides with observations that shoot was the first PGP to proliferate on the explants cultured. Keywords: Potato varieties, Mircopropagation, Plant growth parameters, Evaluation, In vitro