Jane Muthoni¹ , M. Mbiyu² , C. Lungaho² , S. Otieno² , P.  Pwaipwai²

1 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Genetic Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 781 00902, Kikuyu, Kenya
2 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Horticulture Research Institute (KALRO)-Tigoni, P.O Box 338 00217, Limuru, Kenya
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol. 7, No. 27   doi: 10.5376/ijh.2017.07.0027
Received: 15 Sep., 2017    Accepted: 30 Sep., 2017    Published: 03 Nov., 2017

Muthoni J., Mbiyu M., Lung’aho C., Otieno S., and Pwaipwai P., 2017, Performance of two potato cultivars derived from in-vitro plantlets, mini-tubers and stem cuttings using aeroponics technique, International Journal of Horticulture, 7(27): 246-249 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2017.07.0027)

An experiment was conducted at KALRO-Tigoni to assess the effect of starter plant material (in-vitro plantlets, stem cuttings and minitubers) on minituber production of two potato cultivars Asante and Tigoni under aeroponic conditions. The experiment was set up in the aeroponic unit at KALRO-Tigoni in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Data were collected at each harvest on the number of minitubers produced per plant; the minitubers were later graded into three weights (0.1-5g, 5.1-12g, >12g). Cultivar Tigoni produced a higher total number of minitubers (49.96) and (52.67) compared to Asante which produced (39.63) and (46.39) minitubers in season one and two respectively. Additionally, in-vitro propagation materials gave the highest number of minitubers (56.44 and 62.94) compared to stem cuttings (43.53 and 51.44) and minitubers (34.42 and 34.19) during the two seasons respectively. The results of this study suggest that the starter materials have a significant effect on the number of potato minitubers produced under the aeroponic system regardless of the potato cultivar. Use of in-vitro plantlets as starter material optimizes minituber production in the aeroponic system. However, the study should be repeated so as to come up with concrete results.

Aeroponics Asante; Potato minitubers; Starter material; Tigoni