SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF SULFHYDRYL COMPOUNDS ON CYTOKININ-INDUCED POTATO, MICROTUBERIZATION IN VITRO

The synergIstic effects of two sulfhydryl compounds, viz., L-cysteme and 2-mercaptoethanol each at 0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 80 and 100 mM during cytokmm-mduced rnlcrolubenzation were studied in two potato (Solanum fuberosum L. subsp. tuberosum) genotypes: The sulfhydryl compounds were tested on induchon medtum based on Murashlge and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 10 mgl-1 Nb-benzyladenine (BA) and 80 gP sucrose There were sIgmficant genotype x sulfhydryl compound mteractions for rnlcrotuber inhtion and development Except for cysteine which showed a positive influence on rnlcrotuber intration  only In early matunng genotype Kufri Ashoka, sulfhydryl compounds m general significantly affected mlcrotuber development. Cysteme at 2: 4.0 mM mh inhited micro tuber development Mercaptoethanol at 20 mM mcreased mlcrotuber fresh mass and ffilcrotuber yield. However, mcreasmg concentrailons of mercaptoethanol In the medtum signficantly declined micro tuber fresh-mass and yield Thus 20 mM mercaptoethanol can be used In the induchon medium to improve potato mlcrotuberproduction and utlization efficiency dunng cytokmin-mduced tubenzation in Vitro.