Virus elimination in potato through meristem culture followed by thermotherapy

Virus elimination in potato through meristem culture followed by thermotherapy and virus indexing was studied. Three levels of thermotherapy, viz. 27±1°C (control), 30±1°C and 35±1°C, sixteen combinations of BAP (Benzyl Amino Purine) plus GA3 (gibberellic Acid) concentrations viz. 0.0+0.0 (control), 0.0+0.2, 0.0+0.4, 0.0+0.6, 1.5+0.0, 1.5+0.2, 1.5+0.4, 1.5+0.6, 3.0+0.0, 3.0+0.2, 3.0+0.4, 3.0+0.6 , 4.5+0.0, 4.5+ 0.2, 4.5+0.4 and 4.5+0.6 were used in this study in three potato varieties viz. Diamant, Heera and Lalpakri. Among the thermo therapies, 27±1°C showed the highest (24.55) survival response followed by 30±1°C, 35±1°C, respectively. The poorest (20.47) survival response of meristem derived plantlets was noticed in 35±1°C which gave the highest percentage (43.79) of virus free plantlets followed by 30±1°C. The best (25.85%) survival response was found in Lalpakri and the lowest (19.08%) survivality was recorded in Diamant. The highest (33.27) percentage of PVY (Potato Virus Y) free plantlets was observed in Heera. The combined treatment 3.0 mg L-1 BAP and 0.2 mg L-1 GA3 showed the highest (63.39) percentage of virus free plantlet production followed by 4.5 mg L-1 BAP and 0.2 mg L-1 GA3DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i1.18376 SAARC J. Agri., 11(1): 71-80 (2013)