SUMMARY
Study was aimed at assessing the role of apoplastic invertase in synchronization of the microtuber formation in potato plants in vitro. A non-transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants (hereinafter nonTPs) and a line of potato plants, which expressed the SUC2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding invertase apoplastic localization under the control of the B33 promoter of the patatin gene (hereinafter TPs), was used to achieve this purpose. Cell divisions in the axillary meristems of single-node cuttings were synchronized by exposing to 7°C for 24 h in a MS medium (without agar). After the low-temperature, the synchronization (LTS) of proportion of simultaneously dividing cells in meristems of nonTPs was four-fold greater than without chilling. The LTS did not change the number of dividing cells in the axillary meristems of TPs. The LTS contributed to an increase in the mass and size of microtubers in both potato lines. All microtubers of nonTPs were of physiological maturity. At the same time, microtubers of TPs were physiologically immature, with high glucose content. During the tuber formation, the activity of acidic invertases in microtubers of TPs was higher than that of nonTPs. Microtubers of TPs were larger than the nonTPs, more hydrated with low starch amount. Propably glucose accumulated in the microtubers of the TPs may act as a signal to trigger cell division. It indicates the regulatory function of apoplastic invertase and sugars. The high activity of apoplastic invertase plays a negative role in the production of potato microtubers of identical physiological age.