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The production of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants coming from in vitro culture will ensure the rapid spread of promising varieties. The aim of this work was to determine the response of four Cuban varieties during minitubers formation in greenhouse from plants in vitro obtained. Plants of the varieties 'Yuya', 'Marinca', 'Grettel' and 'Ibis' with height between 6.5 and 7.0cm were used. These were planted at a distance of 10x10cm on a substrate composed of organic matter (100%). At 15 days of culture the number of live plants was quantified and the percentage of survival was calculated. Subsequently, the fresh and dry mass of the foliage and root system were determined every 15 days and up to 90 days of culture and the absolute and relative growth rate were calculated. At 75 days of culture the number, diameter, fresh and dry mass of the minitubers were quantified. The results showed high plant survival (> 96.5%). The absolute and relative growth rate in the time and the formation of minitubers were dependent on the variety. The highest number of minitubers per plant was obtained in the variety 'Ibis' while the largest number with seed size (2.9-4.5 cm in diameter) was obtained in the varieties 'Yuya' and Grettel. The results of the work provided important information to establish differential agronomic management for each variety to increase the number of seed size minitubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obtaining of original seed of national potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) is of great importance. The objective of the present work was to obtain minitubers from four national potato varieties in a greenhouse with zeolite as substrate. The plants in vitro propagated of the varieties 'Grettel', 'Yuya', 'Ibis' and 'Marinca' were planted and received cultural and phytosanitary attention according to the protocol existing at IBP. Harvest was performed at 75 days of culture and the total number of minitubers and the number of minitubers with a diameter greater than 15 mm were quantified for each plant. Plants and tubers showed the typical characteristics of each variety under zeolite substrate culture conditions. The highest number of minitubers per plant was achieved in the 'Yuya' and 'Ibis' varieties with 3.84 and 3.52 respectively. For the number of minitubers available as original seed (> 15 mm), the 'Yuya' variety was superior with 82.3%. The culture conditions with zeolite substrate allow to obtain minitubers of potatoes of the four varieties from plants in vitro cultured. 'Yuya' and 'Ibis' showed the best results and potentially could be incorporated into the national seed production program in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]