Rapid Multiplication Techniques for Potatoes: Leaf-Bud Cuttings

This technique involves obtaining leaf-bud cuttings from large mother plants that are beginning to mature. The cuttings should contain one leaf and its bud, and they should be cut from the central part of the plant to ensure optimal tuberlet production. The first step in the leaf-bud cuttings technique is to select suitable mother plants. The ideal mother plant is one that is beginning to senesce and has maturing basal leaves. The plant should have been grown under long day length and then held 10 to 15 days at a short day length prior to cutting to induce tuberization. Cuttings from the central part of the plant produce the best yielding tuberlets, while cuttings from the lower part of the plant produce smaller tuberlets. To prevent the spread of contact viruses and other diseases, it is essential to follow strict sanitary procedures. This includes washing hands and knives in a strong soap solution or other approved chemicals, wearing clean clothes that have not been in contact with other plants, and removing the stems at the base of the plant 2 to 3 cm above the soil. The stems should be handled carefully to avoid foliage damage, and a disinfected board should be used to cut the stems into leaf-bud cuttings. Proper selection of the leaf-bud cuttings is crucial for optimal tuberlet production. The ideal leaf-bud cutting should have a non-differentiated bud, while cuttings with differentiated buds or old and damaged leaves may produce poor-quality tuberlets. The cuttings should be covered with a moist paper towel to avoid wilting, and they should be planted as soon as possible in a well-drained fine sand medium. Tuberlet formation begins after one or two weeks, and the tuberlets are harvested when all leaves are dead, usually 4 to 6 weeks after planting. The tuberlets should be harvested carefully to avoid leaving any in the sand, and any leaf-bud cuttings that are not properly developed should be eliminated. The tuberlets can be stored at 4°C and 90% relative humidity for 4 to 6 months prior to field planting to break dormancy uniformly. Through this technique, a large number of tuberlets can be obtained rapidly using a reduced area. The tuberlets can be used for field planting, and they can be stored in an ordinary refrigerator or other controlled environment to break dormancy uniformly. However, no chemical treatment has yet been found that breaks dormancy uniformly, and alternative methods are being sought.