In Vitro Tuberization of Potato and Tuber Crops

Dear Colleagues,

Potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption. Global food demand is projected to increase by 50% to feed 9 billion people by 2050, which is challenging in climate change conditions. In terms of genetic and species diversity, more than 7000 accessions of native, wild, and improved potato varieties are maintained as clonal germplasm in CIP, Peru as well as domestically managed genebanks.

As it is vegetatively propagated, huge amounts of virus-free planting material (i.e., seed potatoes) are needed annually worldwide. In vitro microtubers may offer advantages for the storage and transport of pathogen-free germplasm over cuttings in the seed production system. Numerous studies from many countries during the last three decades reported that the in vitro tuberization of potato is influenced by the carbon and nitrogen source of the medium, plant growth regulators, culture conditions (temperature and photoperiod) and systems, etc. In addition to in-depth physiological studies, comprehensive and systematic studies are needed to develop the microtuber seed production system which will be released on the commercial market.

This Special Issue is focused not only on potato but also on other tuber-bearing crops, such as yams, lilies, etc., since the latter may share similar mechanisms of in vitro tuberization or storage organ formation as a propagation strategy of vegetatively propagated species. We welcome research articles and reviews that address any aspect of the in vitro tuberization of potato and other tuber crops.

Prof. Haeng-hoon Kim
Guest Editor

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• in vitro culture
• in vitro tuberization
• microtuberization
• seed potato production
• tuber crops