Use of radiation for inducing mutants in potatoes through tissue culture technique

Meristem-tips obtained from sprouts of potato tubers, cv. 'Diamant' (Solanum tuberosum) were cultured on MS-medium and multiplied into plantlets through micropropagation. After 2-3 weeks, the micropropagated plantlets had 5-6 nodes each. The plantlets were irradiated with 20 to 40 Gy gamma rays at 27.7 rad/sec. Irradiated plantlets were cut into single nodes and cultured on MS-medium supplemented with 2 g NaCl. Salt resistant plantlets were transferred to MS-liquid medium supplemented with 2g NaCl/l 5.2, and microtubers were collected after 6 weeks. Minitubers were produced under the same level of salinity. (author). 2 tabs