Abstract
The effect of CO2 enrichment and high solar radiation on the growth of potato (Solarium tuberosum L. cv. Benimaru) plantlets in the direct ex-vitro rooting method was examined. Explants of micropropagated shoots, single node cuttings each with a leaf, were inserted directry into the rockwool plugs and cultured inside the environmental control units at different intensities of solar radiation under CO2 non-enriched and CO2 enriched conditions.
On the 35th day, the fresh and dry weights and the number of leaves of the plantlets under high solar radiation and CO2 enriched conditions were, respectively, 2.4, 3.1 and 1.7 times greater than those under low solar radiation and CO2 non-enriched conditions. High solar radiation and CO2 enrichment promoted the growth and rooting of the plantlets in the direct ex-vitro rooting method.
The fresh and dry weights of the plantlets under high solar radiation and CO2 enriched conditions in the direct ex-vitro rooting method were greater than those in the conventional method.
