Allen, Jim R., authorKnutson, Kenneth W., advisorLadd, Sheldon L., committee memberHarrison, Monty D., committee memberWorkman, Milton, committee member2023-01-272023-01-271985https://hdl.handle.net/10217/236124Covers not scanned.The effect of a rapid multiplication tissue culture propagation scheme on phenotypic variation of potato clones was studied. Mother stock consisted of eight virus-free commonly grown potato cultivars, along with field and mutant selections of Centennial Russet and Russet Burbank cultivars. These cultivars and selections were cultured via shoot-tip culture and propagated by nodal transfers. The experiments consisted of comparisons of plants propagated via nodal transfers for approximately one year with tuber propagated mother stock as the control. Also, the effects of different time periods in culture, cold storage and heat stress were studied. Tubers from first generation plants were harvested and replanted for second generation comparisons. The second generation comparisons provided the best analysis when all plants were grown from tubers. Much of the experimental error from juvenile growth characteristics of tissue culture plantlets was eliminated. Observations were taken on eighteen plant characters, such as pigment on nodes. Measurements were taken on fourteen plant characters, such as terminal leaf index. There were some instances where variable readings on pigment of some plant parts were found. These instances were few in relation to the size of the experiment and were most likely the result of environmental and physiological differences rather than genetic variation. Factors such as tuber weight and tuber dormancy that resulted in delayed emergence had more effect on plant variability than the tissue culture treatments. Repeated nodal transfers (up to one year), cold storage or heat stress did not induce phenotypic variation in these experiments.masters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.PotatoesText