The effect of explant size and addition of antiviral ribavirin on proliferation of meristematic potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) belongs to Solanacearum genus which is vegetatively propagated through tubers or cuttings. Viral systemic diseases are an important disease that can be carried within seeds. Conventional techniques of tissue culture when combined with chemotherapy can eliminate systemic diseases, especially viruses. Research activity was carried out in the tissue culture laboratory of Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI) from April until November 2018. The study was aimed to observe the effect of (1) antiviral Ribavirin concentrations (0; 5; 10 mg l −1 ) added into MS medium supplemented with GA 3 0.15 mg l −1 , kinetin 0.1 mg l −1 , Calsium panthothenate 2 mg l −1 , Myo inositol 100 mg l −1 , coconut water 100 ml l −1 , sucrose 30 g l −1 , agar 6.5 g l −1 , pH 5.7; and (2) genotypic difference of given varieties i.e . Granola, Median and Atlantic to the growth and development of the meristematic tissue (E1), shoot tip (E2). The results showed that growth percentage and development of meristematic shoot at 4 weeks after treatment was 50 – 80%, contamination rate was 20 – 50%; the percentage of normal growth was 40 – 50%, average number of shoots was 0.25 – 0.95, the number of nodes was 0.35 – 2.50, roots 0.20 – 0.93; while visual observation of antiviral Ribavirin on MS medium showed influences on growth where explants of shoot tip growth was better than meristem of the three varieties studied.