Use of Aeroponics Technique for Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) Mini Tubers Production in India: A Review

Abstract-Potato, also known as Solanum tuberosum L., ranks as the third most vital food crop worldwide and is essential for food security, especially in developing countries. Potatoes grow from tubers instead of seeds like cereals, making them susceptible to seed-borne diseases that lower seed quality and decrease yields in the long run. India, a leading potato-producing nation, is facing a major challenge due to a significant lack of high-quality seed tubers, as only 20-25% of the required amount is being met by state and central agencies. Identified as promising solutions to address this problem are advanced methods of multiplication such as micropropagation, hydroponics, and aeroponics. These technologies make the production of disease-free Mini tubers faster and more efficient. Aeroponics, a method of growing plants without soil using mist, has demonstrated significant potential for producing seed potatoes on a large scale. Derived from research conducted in the early 1900s, aeroponics has advanced to increase crop yields, reduce disease risks, and improve production efficiency. Small tubers created using this method, varying from 5 to 25 mm in size, are grown in controlled settings such as greenhouses and growth chambers. Aeroponics provides several benefits, including enhanced water usage, quicker growth, increased harvest, and decreased reliance on pesticides and herbicides. Nevertheless, it also poses difficulties such as expensive initial costs, the requirement for specific expertise, and accurate management of nutrients. By making advances in temperature, nutrition, and light management, aeroponics presents a hopeful remedy for the lack of seed potatoes and a means to enhance worldwide potato yield.