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| Authors: | C. Carli, P.K. Njoroge, C.M. Makwa |
Abstract:
Rapid multiplication of potato has been on-going since 1988 at the National Potato Research Center, Tigoni, Kenya to multiply healthy basic seed.
Starting with the use of stem cuttings, the basic seed program also relies on other propagation methods.
In this paper, we report the utilization of apical cuttings and tubercles in two different environments: greenhouse and field.
A series of experiments were conducted to improve the management of mother plants and cuttings of a diverse group of cultivars for rapid multiplication purposes.
The results showed that individual mother plants, from sprouted cuttings or tubercles, could produce over 20 cuttings in 3–4 months, depending on variety and type of planting material used.
Mother plants can be maintained in a vegetative stage for more than 3 months.
The most important variable that favored the production of cuttings was an extended photoperiod of 16 h.
Water-soluble fertilizers with high P content increased tuber production from apical cuttings.
Growing cuttings in the field rather than in the greenhouse resulted in better plant growth and tuber yield.
Results indicated that tuber yields from 5–10 g tubercles were superior to those from cuttings.
These two ways of growing potato need further on-farm evaluation on socioeconomic factors with the participation of farmers.
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