MICROPROPAGATION OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) FROM NODE EXPLANTS

Abstract. In the moderate climate, sweet potato plantations are relatively scarce. The plantations are established after spring frosts using well-rooted, hardened cuttings. The cuttings are obtained from the shoots grown from tubers buried in warm, humid soil or from plants growing in greenhouses. However, this method is inefficient with respect to larger plantation. The aim of the study was to estimate the potential for the production of larger numbers of uniform, well-rooted sweet potato plants by means of in vitro culturing. The study covered two cultivars – ‘Carmen Rubin ’ and ‘White Triumph’. The node ex-plants were placed on two growth media containing the basic components of the MS me-dium as well as growth regulators. The first medium was supplemented with 1 mg dm-3 gib-berellin and 0.1 mg dm-3 kinetin, while the second one – with 0.5 mg dm-3 IAA. The in-duction of organogenesis and regeneration of the plants took place on the same medium, with no passage. Within 9 weeks, 4 plants were produced from each primary explants in two multiplication cycles. The properties of the plantlets depended on the cultivar, weight of the explants and composition of the medium. The average weight of the ‘Carmen Rubin ’ plants was higher than that of the ‘White Triumph ’ ones. Moreover, the ‘Carmen Rubin ’ plants produced longer shoots and more developed root systems. The sweet potato micro-plants displayed an ability to acclimatize quickly. Key words: in vitro propagation type of medium, properties of plantlet