Production of High-Quality Seed Potato by Aeroponics." In: Villa P.M. (Ed.) The Potato Crop: Management, Production, and Food Security

Abstract

Commercial production of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., is based on vegetative propagation by seed tubers. High-quality seed material is obtained from potato plants grown from minitubers (pre-basic seed potatoes). Likewise, minitubers are produced by acclimation and growth on soil or solid substrate of previously in vitro-propagated, virus-free microplants or microtubers. Aeroponics is a modern, soilless technique for minitubers’ production. In the aeroponic cultivation system, foliage is grown under conventional conditions, while the underground stems and roots of potato plants are located in a dark chamber, module, suspended in the air, and supplied with water and nutrients through a nutrient solution dispersed in the form of fine mist particles. Minitubers (tubers of 5-25 mm in size) are produced on underground stems, namely stolons. Potato minituber propagation in aeroponics has significant advantages over other used systems or techniques. This system enables the production of a high number of minitubers per plant during the production cycle that can usually be repeated during the year. Besides, successive harvesting allows minitubers to reach the desired, uniform size. Tubers grown in an aeroponic system are well-protected from pests and soil-borne diseases. Due to the recirculation of nutrient solution, efficient usage of space, and minimal environmental pollution, aeroponics enables the production of minitubers in an environmentally friendly manner. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge of the aeroponic production of potatoes. The advantages and deficiencies of this interesting production technique are also discussed.