Abstract

There is huge demand for high quality potato seed in India, however, availability is limited due to low multiplication rate. Aeroponics technology is used for fast multiplication of basic seed stocks from in vitro plantlets. To make better use of expensive aeroponics facility, two production cycles of consecutive crops per year were tried. Experiment was conducted at ICAR-Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, Punjab, on three varieties and two hardening mediums before planting to aeroponic system for two consecutive crops. Observations were recorded on per cent survival, days taken to tuber initiation, plant height at final harvest, number of minitubers, minitubers weight, haulm fresh and dry weight and root fresh and dry weight on per plant basis. All the three varieties performed well during main season but Kufri Surya emerged as the best performing variety under aeroponics during second consecutive season. Liquid hardening is better for improved plant establishment as well as early initiation of tubers. Therefore, two crops of potato minitubers production are possible with selection of suitable hardening medium and variety.