In vitro culture of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Abstract

Cultures of three lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) clones collected from natural stands in Newfoundland were established in vitro on a modified cranberry (V. macrocarpon Ait.) tissue culture medium containing zeatin (5 μM) or N6-[2-isopentenyl]adenine (2iP) (10 μM). Shoot proliferation with respect to shoot number per explant differed among clones at various concentrations of zeatin over two culture periods. Best total shoot proliferation was obtained when basal nodal segments were cultured in the medium supplemented with 2-4 μM zeatin. In another experiment, nodal explants were more productive than shoot tips. Shoots growing for more than 12 weeks on media that contained more than 4 μM zeatin occasionally produced adventitious shoot masses, which appeared to arise from dense calli growing at the base of the shoots in the medium. The lower concentration of sucrose and lower irradiance improved shoot proliferation with respect to vigor compared to the control treatments (30 g L-1 and 30 μmol m-2 s-1, respectively). In all experiments with subculture, there was an increase in shoot multiplication rate for all clones. A 50-100-fold multiplication rate was obtained every 3 months with the clones. © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.