Controlled environment system and method for rapid propagation of seed potato stocks

A method for developing potato plants that produce minitubers comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one automatically controlled environment chamber means for holding and supporting growth of potato plants over an entire life cycle, the chamber means including temperature, humidity and light sensor means, a lighting means for establishing light and dark periods of exposure having a number of fluorescent lamps located above the potato plants and separated therefrom by a substantially transparent divider, an air temperature means including an air conditioner for creating a variable temperature uniformly throughout the chamber means, an atmospheric humidity means, a nutrient and water delivery means for fertilizing and irrigating the potato plants, and a computer means for automatically and continuously monitoring and controlling the lighting, air temperature, atmospheric humidity and nutrient and water delivery means;
• and
• periodically recording status of various environmental parameters in the chamber means;
• b) placing uncovered stem cuttings from mother potato plants within trays supplied with a solid growth medium inside the chamber means in a single layer;
• c) culturing the stem cuttings in the chamber means into minitubers by automatically controlling monitoring and recording the duration and intensity of the lighting, air temperature as a function of time during the light and dark periods, the percentage of humidity as a function of time, and the duration and frequency of aqueous nutrients according to set points established in the computer means as compared with inputs from the sensor means, wherein the step of culturing the stem cuttings in the chamber means further includes the steps of:
• maintaining an air temperature of 68-72 degrees F. during a light period of 12 hours and an air temperature that does not exceed 68 degrees F. during a 5 dark period of 12 hours for a first week throughout which the stem cuttings are illuminated at a low level in which one-third of the fluorescent lamps are on, for a second week at a medium light level in which two-thirds of the fluorescent lamps are on and for a third week at a full light level in which all fluorescent lamps are on;
• and 10 maintaining an air temperature of 65-71 degrees F. during the light period and an air temperature of 47-53 degrees F. during the dark period for about five weeks following the third week of culturing;
• and
• d) harvesting the minitubers within 56-64 days of culturing.