A Rapid Micropropagation Protocol for Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Via Tissue Culture Technique

Abstract

A rapid and reliable micropropagation protocol was developed for two sweet potato varieties, Mangawy and Mabrokat Al-Shimal, by testing various growth regulators and different carbon sources. Healthy cultures were taken from nodal segment explants taken from potted plants. Adding BA was more effective than Kinetin when used at the same concentration. The highest number of leaves per explant (5.22 leaves/ explant) and the longest shoots (2.88 cm) were achieved when 2 mg L-1 BA was added to the culture medium. For Mabrokat Al-Shimal, the highest mean length of shoots (3.77 cm) was obtained when 1 mg.l-1 kinetin was used, and the highest leaves number (10.33 leaves/ explant) was obtained when 0.5 mg.l-1 kinetin was used. Sucrose was the best carbon source for the multiplication of this Mangawy variety, followed by fructose then glucose. On the other hand, fructose and sucrose showed the best results for the Mabrokat Al-Shimal variety. A 100% rooting was achieved for all tested treatments. IBA was better than NAA Mangawy root formation by giving the best rooting parameters. The highest number of roots per explant (22.33 roots/ explant) was achieved when 1.5 mg.l-1 IBA was used. While the highest mean length of roots (12.87 cm) was achieved when added 0.5 mg.l-1 NAA. A hundred percent success was achieved at the acclimatization stage for both tested varieties. Both varieties were excellent and tasty, especially from Mabrokat Al-Shimal at open-field cultivation.