Section 13. Plantlet Production on a Grower's Seed Farm or Private Micropropagation Laboratory

 

The following conditions must be fulfilled before plant material produced by a private micropropagation laboratory, including a grower's individual seed farm, will be accepted into Montana's Limited Generation Certification Program.

 

1.      Propagation sources must be disease-free materials.

 

2.      Testing

 

a.       All initial in vitro mother plant materials must be tested for PVX, PVY, PVS, PVA, and PLRV by ELISA and electron microscope; must have the PSTV test by the PSTV nucleic acid hybridization assay; Erwinia carotovora must be tested for by CVP or MacConkey's method, and Clavibacter must be tested for by gram stain and immunofluorescent antibody stain.  These tests will be made by the Montana State Potato Laboratory or by an independent testing laboratory approved by the Montana Seed Potato Certification Program. The testing results are to be sent to the Montana seed grower and will serve as the documentation source for the certification office.

 

b.       Plantlet populations or mini-tubers produced in a green­house also shall be randomly tested for all diseases of concern.  A minimum of one and one-half percent (1.5%) of plants shall be sent to the MSU Potato Lab prior to planting.

 

3.      Classification

 

a.       Plantlets increased in vitro (pre-nuclear) can be used as a source of nuclear, and the progeny will be classified as nuclear.

 

b.       Minitubers produced in a greenhouse can be used as a source of Generation 1, and the progeny will be classified as Generation 1.

 

c.       Minitubers produced in a greenhouse can be used as a source of nuclear if and only if they are 100% tested and show no infection from diseases of concern as stated in Appendix B, Item 2a.

 

4.      Cost

 

Growers involved will bear the cost of testing.