CYTOKININ CONTENT IN POTATO CLONES WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF NEMATODE RESISTANCE GOLDEN

Abstract

Potato crop (Solanum tuberosum) severely affected by Globodera rostochiensis (Golden nematode) often shows reduction in number and size of leaves and tubers as well as reductions in plant height and premature leaf senescense. These effects may be due to a decrease in endogenous cytokinins production. The present study was conducted during 1986 at the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, in order to determine and correlate the cytokinin content in roots of nine potato clones with different degrees of resistence to G. rostochiensis. Thin layer chromatography for cytokinin analysis was used. Biological activity in all the clones was observed. The correlation value (0.14 ns) between nematotle cysts number and root cytokinin content, indicates that the presence of the nematode does not interfere with cytokinin production.