Summary
Microtuber and minitubers of cv. Monalisa were produced in the laboratory and compared with normal seed tubers in a field experiment. These tubers were planted at similar plant densities (13.6 sprouts per m2) with two distances between rows (60 and 90 cm). Final ground cover was almost complete only in the plots derived from normal tubers and decreased with the size of the mother tubers. Normal seed, mini- and microtubers yielded respectively 50.8, 31.7, and 17.0 t/ha (means of two spacings). At close and wide spacing between rows, microtubers yielded respectively 27.3 and 6.7 t/ha, and minitubers 38.9 to 24.4 t/ha. Row spacing did not influence the yields from normal seed tubers. Total number of tubers per m2 was also affected and, as means of the two spacings, ranged from 107.8 with microtubers, 122.1 with minitubers, to 142.9 with normal tubers. Mother tuber type also affected the yield distribution in three tuber grades (<36, 36–55, and 55–80 mm) and micro and minitubers produced many small tubers. Multiplication rates and the possible use of different propagation sources are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burstall, L. & P.M. Harris, 1983. The estimation of percentage light interception from leaf area index and percentage ground cover in potatoes.Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 100: 241–244.
Casarini, B., P. Ranalli & C. Cerato, 1985. Progetto nazionale per la patata da seme: motivazioni e attese.L'Informatore Agrario 36: 49–55.
Coombs, D.T., 1990. The use of minitubers in commercial seed production. Proceedings of the 11th Triennial Conference EAPR, Edinburgh, p. 329.
Doncaster, J.P. & P.H. Gregory, 1948. The spread of virus diseases in the potato crop. Agricultural Research Council Report Series No. 7, H.M.S.O., London.
Forti, E., G. Mandolino & P. Ranalli, 1990. In vitro tuber induction: influence of the variety and of medium.Acta Horticulture 280: 271–276.
Goodwin, P.B., Y.C. Kim & T. Adisarwanto, 1980. Propagation of potato by shoot tip culture. I. Shoot multiplication.Potato Research 23: 9–18.
Haverkort, A.J. & J. Marinus, 1990. Preliminary results on the field performance of microtubers as propagation material. Proceedings of the 11th Triennial Conference EAPR, Edinburgh, pp. 382–383.
Hussey, G. & N.J. Stacey, 1981. In vitro propagation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).Annals of Botany 48: 787–796.
Hussey, G. & N.J. Stacey, 1984. Factors affecting the formation of in vitro tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).Annals of Botany 53: 565–578.
Krijthe, N., 1955. Observations on the formation and growth of tubers of the potato plant.Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 3: 291–304.
Lommen, W.J.M. & P.C. Struik, 1990. Field performance of minitubers of different sizes. Proceedings of the 11th Triennial conference EAPR, Edinburgh, pp. 376–377.
Miller, S.A. & L. Lipschutz, 1984. Potato. In: P.V. Ammirato, D.A. Evans, W.R. Sharp & Y. Yamada (Eds), Handbook of Plant Cell Culture, Vol. 3, Macmillan Publishing Co., New York.
Milthorpe, F.L., 1993. Some aspects of plant growth. In: J.D. Evins & F. Milthorpe (Eds), The Growth of the Potato, pp. 3–16. Butterworth, London.
Moorby, J. & F.L. Milthorpe, 1975. The potato. In: L.T. Evans (Ed.), Crop Physiology-some case histories, pp. 225–257. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.
Murashige, T. & F. Skoog, 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assay with tobacco tissue cultures.Physiology Plantarum 15: 473–497.
Ranalli, P., M. Bernabei, V. Tassinari, G. Mandolino, P. Benso, C. Cerato & A. Canova, 1988. Produzione di tuberi prebase virus-esenti.L'Informatore Agrario 23: 33–39.
Ranalli, P., E. Forti & G. Mandolino, 1989. Attempts to improve seed potato production in Italy. Proceedings of the 11th Triennial Conference EAPR, Edinburgh, pp. 226–227.
Ranalli, P., E. Forti, G. Mandolino & C. Casarini, 1990a. Improving production and health of seed potato stocks in Italy.Potato Research 33: 377–387.
Ranalli, P., E. Forti & G. Mandolino, 1990b. Microtuberi e minituberi: acquisizioni e prospettive.Agricoltura Ricerca 115: 23–30.
Ranalli, P., M. Bizarri, L. Borghi & M. Mari, 1994. Genotypic influence on in vitro induction, dormancy length, advancing age and agronomical performance of potato microtubers (Solanum tuberosum L.).Annals of Applied Biology 125: 93–101.
Van Uyen, N. & P. Vander Zaag, 1985. Potato production using tissue culture in vietnam: the status after four years.American Potato Journal 62: 237–241.
Wang, P. & C. Hu, 1982. In vitro mass tuberization and virus-free seed potato in Taiwan.American Potato Journal 59: 33–37.
Wiersema, S.G., R. Cabello, P. Tovar & J.H. Dodds, 1987. Rapid seed multiplication by planting into beds micro tubers and in vitro plants.Potato Research 30: 117–120.
Wiersema, S.G., 1989. Comparative performance of three small seed tuber sizes and standard size tubers planted at similar stem densities.Potato Research 32: 81–89.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ranalli, P., Bassi, F., Ruaro, G. et al. Microtuber and minituber production and field performance compared with normal tubers. Potato Res 37, 383–391 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02358352
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02358352