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Abstract

In vitro conservation of potato microplants has great economic value. Two major methods for plant germplasm conservation are slow or minimal growth and cryopreservation. In this study, potato shoot tips (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Cosima & Desiree were grown in MS medium containing different concentrations of mannitol (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%).Cultures were kept under 16-h photoperiod and temperature 25?C for 8 months. Recovery and regrowth of microplants after this period were achieved in MS medium. Concentration of 6% mannitol has the best effect on restriction of growth and development of potato plantlets. Vitrification, flaccidity and small leaf were observed in media with 4% and 6% mannitol. Genetic stability of potato microplants conserved in mannitol media was investigated using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The primers used in this study, showed no differences in DNA banding patterns among control and treated plantletes. However, mannitol did not induced any genetic variation in genomic DNA of potato microplants.

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