Kinetin-mediated enhancement of microtuberization in potato: Insights into growth regulation and tuber development

Abstract:

The present study was conducted to evaluate the influence of kinetin on growth characteristics and microtuberization of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under in-vitro conditions. The experiment was carried out using different concentrations of kinetin (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ppm) along with a control treatment to determine its effect on vegetative growth and microtuber development. Kinetin application significantly affected plant growth parameters, including plant height, number of nodes and number of leaves, with higher concentrations showing a reduction in vegetative growth compared to the control. However, kinetin exhibited a positive influence on microtuber induction and development. Among the treatments, 1 ppm kinetin recorded the highest percentage of microtuberizing plants (91.67%), maximum number of microtubers per plant (1.77), highest microtuber fresh weight (81.5 mg), and greater microtuber diameter (6.58 mm) compared to the control. The results indicated that an optimum concentration of kinetin enhanced tuber initiation and improved microtuber quality, whereas higher concentrations showed reduced effectiveness. The findings suggest that kinetin, particularly at 1 ppm concentration, plays an important role in promoting microtuberization by stimulating cell division and regulating physiological processes involved in tuber development. Therefore, kinetin supplementation can be effectively utilized in potato tissue culture systems for enhanced production of quality microtubers.