The elimination of latent viruse from potatoes of Danshaku variety by use of tissue culture

Abstract

An attempt was made to eliminate the latent viruses from potato plants of Danshaku variety, which is synonymous with Irish Cobbler and the one most commonly cultivated in Japan. All current stocks of the variety are infected with potato viruses X and S. The tubers were planted in soil under glass, and the apical meristems of their sprouts were excised into pieces less than 0.2mm in length and cultured in Kassanis' medium (1957). When these meristems grew into plantlets about 3∼4cm long, they were transferred directly from culture medium into sterilized soil. Of 158 meristem cultures, only five grew into plantlets, which were proved all to be free from virus X. One plantlet was tested for virus S, and shown to be free. Three of the plantlets survived and produced small tubers.