ISHS Acta Horticulturae 212: Symposium on In Vitro Problems Related to Mass Propagation of Horticultural Plants
LONG-TERM STORAGE OF GERBERA ROOTED IN VITRO |
| Authors: | T. Hempel, M. Hempel |
| Abstract:
Micropropagation is most profitable when plants are produced in vitro all-year-around. However, it is impossible in countries with a restricted trade exchange and a seasonal demand for planting material. In such countries it is economical to produce plants out-of-season and store them until sale. The presented experiments concern the influence of the storage period and light provided during storage on the survival of gerbera plants after planting in a horticultural substrate and their subsequent growth in a greenhouse. Gerbera shoots had been rooted in vitro in conical flasks according to be standard procedure and after 3 weeks transferred to a storage room/ 4°C/ and stored for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months is either darkness or light. After storage plants were planted in a greenhouse and the survival, height, branching, and fresh and dry weight were determined after 6 weeks of growth. Plants from all the treatments had a survival rate of 100 %. The growth of plants stored until 3 months in either darkness or light was similar but if plants had been stored longer than 3 months they grew better in a greenhouse when light had been provided during storage. | |
