Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on in Vitro Micropropagation of Disease-Free Potato

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a widely cultivated crop in Pakistan. Developing disease-free potatoes is essential for commercial cultivation and germplasm conservation. This study evaluates the effects of two plant growth regulators (PGRs), NAA (0.8 mg) and GA₃ (0.125 mg), on the in vitro micropropagation of three potato cultivars (Patrone, Diamante, and Desiree). Shoot tips of ~2 mm were used as explants. MS medium supplemented with GA₃ achieved the highest shoot formation (98%), root formation (97%), plantlet regeneration (96%), and percent regeneration (96%) in the Patrone cultivar compared to NAA and control treatments. This study demonstrates the role of PGRs in influencing in vitro propagation and highlights the superiority of GA₃ in enhancing potato regeneration.