Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
2 Medical and Aromatic Research Unit, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of kinetin and coconut milk on the formation of micro tubers in potato plants and their content of medically active compounds in vitro. The experiment was carried out in the Plant Biology Laboratory of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Unit, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Iraq. during the period from March 1, 2024, to December 15, 2024. Potato tuber explants were surface-sterilized with 6% sodium hypochlorite solution to eliminate contaminants before culture.The resulting shoots were then transferred to MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ BA to promote shoot multiplication and growth.The obtained shoots were segmented into nodal cuttings and cultured in MS medium containing four kinetin levels (0, 2.5, 5, 7 mg L⁻¹) in combination with four concentrations of coconut milk (0, 50, 75, 100 ml L⁻¹) to induce microtuber formation and enhance the production of certain medically active compounds. The results demonstrated the superiority of the interaction treatment between kinetin and coconut milk (K₂C₂) in improving the studied traits, as it recorded the highest values for microtuber number, diameter, fresh weight, and dry matter content. Furthermore, this treatment contributed to an increase in the percentage of protein and starch, Moreoverthe stimulation of the production of two medically active compounds, lutein, and Xanthine.
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