In Vitro Propagation of Potato under Abiotic Stress: Optimizing Growth in a Changing Climate
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s fourth most important food crop after wheat, maize, and rice. However, climate change and abiotic stresses such as temperature fluctuations, altered pH, and light intensity pose serious threats to sustainable potato production. To address these challenges, plant tissue culture offers a reliable platform for producing disease-free and stress-tolerant planting material.
This research investigates the impact of abiotic factors on in vitro propagation of the potato cultivar “Karuda”, with the goal of optimizing growth conditions for improved plant development under controlled environments.
Why Study Abiotic Stress in Potato Tissue Culture?
Pakistan faces increasing food security challenges due to climate variability. Abiotic stresses directly influence plant growth, yield, and adaptation potential. In vitro propagation allows precise control of environmental factors, making it an ideal system to:
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Produce disease-free potato plantlets
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Study stress responses at early growth stages
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Develop protocols for resilient crop production
Experimental Approach
The study was conducted at the Bio-Resource Conservation Institute (BRCI), NARC, Islamabad, using apical and lateral shoot explants of the Karuda potato cultivar. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was used as the basal culture medium, with systematic evaluation of key abiotic factors.
Key Factors Evaluated
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Surface sterilization (NaOCl concentration and exposure time)
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pH of culture medium (4.8–8.8)
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Temperature (25°C, 30°C, 40°C)
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Light conditions (intense, moderate, dark)
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Growth regulators (BAP and NAA combinations)
Key Findings
1. Surface Sterilization Optimization
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5% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 5 minutes yielded the highest explant survival (74%).
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Higher concentrations significantly reduced survival due to phytotoxic effects.
2. Effect of pH
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Optimal growth was observed at pH 6.8, resulting in:
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Highest number of leaves and nodes
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Increased shoot length and root formation
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Extremely acidic or alkaline conditions negatively affected plant development.
3. Temperature Response
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30°C supported the best overall growth, including root and shoot development.
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40°C caused severe growth reduction, highlighting the sensitivity of potato to heat stress.
4. Light Intensity
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Intense light conditions promoted maximum leaf number, shoot growth, and plant height.
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Dark conditions resulted in poor growth and weak plantlets.
5. Role of Growth Regulators
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The combination of 2 mg/L BAP + 0.1 mg/L NAA significantly enhanced:
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Shoot multiplication
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Root formation
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Overall plant vigor
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This hormone balance helped mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress under in vitro conditions.
Significance of the Study
This research demonstrates that environmental conditions play a decisive role in potato micropropagation. By optimizing pH, temperature, light, and hormone concentrations, it is possible to:
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Improve in vitro growth efficiency
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Reduce stress-induced damage
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Support large-scale production of healthy seed material
Such protocols are crucial for climate-resilient potato cultivation, especially in regions vulnerable to environmental fluctuations.
Conclusion
The study confirms that in vitro propagation is an effective strategy for managing abiotic stress in potato cultivation. Optimized conditions—particularly pH 6.8, moderate temperature, intense light, and balanced growth regulators—significantly enhance plant growth and survival. These findings contribute to sustainable potato production and food security efforts in Pakistan and similar agro-ecological regions.
? Read the Full Research Article
In Vitro Propagation of Potato Cultivar under Abiotic Stress
Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences:
B. Life and Environmental Sciences, 57(2): 75–82 (2020)
✍️ Author Contribution Highlight
Dr. Shabana Irum contributed to experimental design, tissue culture experimentation, data analysis, and interpretation related to abiotic stress responses in potato micropropagation.