Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Biotechnology Unit, Plant Production Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute (ALCRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Post 21934, Egypt.
2
Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Post 21934, Egypt.
3
Bioprocess development department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Post 21934, Egypt.
4
Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre, El-Tahrir St., Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
In the present study, PLATIBACGEL (PLAnt TIssue Culture BActerial Cellulose GEL), a bacterial cellulose-based gelling agent synthesized by Novacetimonas hansenii TGA, was evaluated as an alternative to agar for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) callus induction. The maximum bacterial cellulose (BC) yield obtained from HS medium was 2.58 g/L, corresponding to a productivity of 36.8%. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, supplemented with various auxin–cytokinin combinations, was employed to culture potato buds from three cultivars (Daraga, Spunta, and Kara) under aseptic conditions. Callus induction frequency, morphology, and biomass were systematically assessed across cultivars and media formulations. The results demonstrated that the Spunta cultivar achieved the highest callus induction frequency (93.0%), while Daraga produced the greatest biomass (0.330 g/explant). Although agar-based media showed slightly higher initiation rates and shorter induction times, PLATIBACGEL performed comparably, yielding healthy, yellowish-green, friable calli with minimal browning. Notably, PLATIBACGEL provided a substantial economic advantage (~$0.2/L vs. ~$12/L for agar) and exhibited lower contamination rates (<1%), making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for large-scale micropropagation. These findings highlight PLATIBACGEL’s potential to replace agar in potato tissue culture, while cultivar- and protocol-specific optimization remains essential to maximize induction efficiency.
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