Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Micropropagation Protocol in Two Potato Varieties: Solanum tuberosum (Perla Negra) y Solanum phureja (Criolla Colombia)

Abstract

The quality of potato seeds is essential to ensure sustainable and profitable production in the Norte de Santander department. It is worth noting that the vegetative reproduction of potatoes exposes them to various seed-transmitted diseases, gradually affecting their quality. This study focused on the Norte de Santander region in Colombia, where the adoption of micropropagation is presented as an effective alternative for pre-basic potato seed production. The research aimed to confirm a micropropagation protocol proposed by Vollmer et al. (2020), applying it to two specific potato varieties: Papa Perla Negra and Papa Criolla Colombia. The validation took place in the in vitro plant tissue culture laboratory at the University of Pamplona. Statistically, no significant differences were found between the varieties in the evaluated variables, thus supporting the validity of the protocol. In conclusion, micropropagation proves to be an effective alternative for pre-basic potato seed production in the region, providing an efficient and rapid method for generating homogeneous and high-quality mother plants.