Effect of saturated carboxylic acids on potato micropropagation*

Two saturated carboxylic acids viz. formic (HCOOH) and acetic (CH₃COOH) acids were used in semisolid Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium at 1.0–6.0 mM concentrations, and their effects on microplant growth were studied in potato cultivar Kufri Giriraj over a four-week culture period in vitro. Both the carboxylic acids were found to have growth-retarding effect on potato microplants; acetic acid, however, inhibited more microplant growth both in terms of microshoot as well as root growth and development. Leaf senescence was found to be significantly increased when the microplants were grown in media supplemented with 3.0–6.0 mM acetic acid. The growth-inhibiting effect of saturated carboxylic acids may be due to their metabolical mode of action synonymous with antigibberellin substances. The work substantiated a basis for reported effectiveness of acetic acid in potato microtuberization in vitro.