In vitro propagation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cultivars

The study is aimed at establishing a simple protocol for in vitro regeneration of sweet potato with a view to providing planting materials tofarmersaswell asbasisfor genetic improvement. Axillarybuds wereexcised and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal salts supplemented with 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP), gibberellic acid (GA₃) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) singly or in combination. The shoot height and number of leaves differed significantly among the cultivars. The result also indicated significant difference (p< 0.01) among the cultivars with King J recording the highest mean values. Significant differences (p< 0.05) was also recorded in the media combination with respect to organogenesis and number of shoots obtained. The results of hardening further revealed 33.33% success in the explants transferred directly to the field, as well as for the plantlets that were gradually weaned in a mixture of 3: 1 sand and biochar.