Paper Title
PRODUCTION OF MICROTUBERS FROM IN VITRO POTATO ON THE HEAVY CLAY SOIL

Abstract
In Georgia, potatoes, both seed and food material, are mainly produced in mountainous regions, at an altitude of 1000-2500 meters above sea level, where the black soil allows to obtain high-quality food potatoes. The main goal of the study was to obtain potato primary microtubers from in vitro plants in the village of Ajamet, Imereti region of Georgia, which is located at an altitude of 104 meters above sea level, local farmers do not actually work on production of food potatoes due to the heavy clay soil. Potato variety “Sante” was used from the in vitro collection of Biotechnology Center. Apical Meristem method was used for establish in vitro culture on the MurashigeansSkoog (MS) medium. Out of 1500 in vitro potato variety “Sante” were placed in plastic pots filled with soil for strengthen the root system which regularly wasirrigated with water and 1% YaraTera™ Kristalon™ under laboratory conditions during 4-5 days. Potato seedlings were planted at the demo plot in the village of Ajamet, Imereti region of Georgia atthe end of June.Potato plants growth and development were stronly controled during the vegetation period 2.5 months after transplanting the potato variety "Sante", microtubers with typical maturity but non-standard shape were obtained, which is caused by the heavy soil in the lowland area of Georgia. Despite the non-standard size, it is quite possible to obtain a certain amount of edible potatoes from these microtubers in the following years, by cultivating the local soil (loosening, adding fertilizers), especially since the starting material was in vitro potato obtained from the apical meristem. First time in Georgia the potato microtubers were produced from potato seedlings obtained from in vitro plants (without greenhouse) in the village of Ajamet, Imereti region of Georgia. Keywords - Potato, Microtuber, In Vitro, Seedling, Production