ISHS Acta Horticulturae 812: III International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants
THE INFLUENCE OF PROPAGATION METHOD ON GROWTH OF THE HALF-HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY 'NORTHBLUE' |
| Authors: | T. Albert, M. Starast, K. Karp, H. Kaldmäe, E. Vool, T. Paal |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium corumbosum × Vaccinium angustifolium, herbaceous cutting, micropropagation |
| Abstract:
Cultivated blueberries are conventionally propagated by woody or herbaceous cuttings. Micropropagation is an alternative in cases when the number of mother plants available is limited or when large numbers of plants with uniform quality are needed. The aim of the research was to investigate influence of propagation method and age of the micropropagation material on the growth of half-highbush blueberry cultivar Northblue in field conditions. The trial plot, located in South Estonia (58°15’ N; 26°39’5 E), was established in 2003 with one-year-old plants propagated by means of micropropagation and by vegetative propagation using herbaceous cuttings. Two types of micropropagation material were used. The first clone had been used extensively for commercial propagation purposes for ten years and had undergone at least 30 subculturings on blueberry media containing 5 mg/L 2iP. The other one had been established more recently and had undergone 10 subculturings on WPM media with 1 mg/L zeatin. Data were collected in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The results showed that growth was dependent on the means of propagation and age of tissue culture. In all years plants from herbaceous cuttings were remarkably higher. In 2005 and 2006 plants from the older micropropagation material were significantly lower than plants from fresh micropropagation material. In 2004, the plants had 6.2 to 9.5 new long herbaceous shoots, in 2006 there were only 4.6 to 5.1 shoots/plant. In 2004 and 2005 the plants from cuttings had longer shoots than micropropagated plants, and in 2006 no differences in growth were observed. Root development was also influenced by the means of propagation – the weight of root mass was highest in plants from cuttings. The older clone of micropropagated plants had larger leaves. In 2004 and 2005 all blueberries showed even winter resistance. In 2006, the new clone of micropropagated plants sustained more winter damage. | |
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