In vitro micropropagation and economic analysis in tomato seedling production

In this study, in vitro micro-propagation of F1 tomato seedlings (cv. Bandita) was carried out, while installation and production costs of seedlings from in vitro grown plantlets and of seedlings produced conventionally were investigated. In this study, 4 different MS (Murashige and Skoog) media where growth regulators (BAP and NAA) were added were used (A0: MS + no plant growth regulator, A1: MS + 0.5 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l NAA, A2: MS + 1 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l NAA, A3: MS + 2 mg/l BAP + 0.1 mg/l NAA). Four subcultures were made for micro-propagation where the amount of explants with the highest coefficient of 3.48 for each subculture were obtained in A0 nutrient medium. A0 medium was selected as the best growth medium and micro-propagation was continued in this medium. 0.3 mg / l IBA was used for rooting in micro-propagated tomato shoots in vitro where 100% rooting was obtained. At the end of the experiment at 10th and 20th days seedling quality criteria such as shoot and root fresh and dry weights, seedling length and trunk thickness, number of leaves, amount of water soluble dry matter were examined in both seedlings grown under aclimatization conditions obtained from micro-propagation and conventionally grown seedlings. Seedlings obtained from in vitro conditions and seedlings obtained from seed by conventional method were compared in terms of seedling characteristics, and as a result, on the 20th day the highest stem fresh weight (4,630 g) and the highest root fresh weight (0.656 g) were recorded in A0 nutrient medium grown seedlings in in vitro conditions. The highest average shoot dry weight was also obtained in A0 nutrient medium with 0.463 g, while the highest average root dry weight was obtained in seedlings grown from seed with 0.170 g. Seedling stem thicknesses were highest in average in A0 nutrient medium (2,766 mm), while being lowest in A3 nutrient medium with 2,073 mm on day 20. In tissue culture (after 4 subcultures), the seedling unit cost when producing 1 million seedlings was found to be 1.367 ₺, whereas in conventional seedling production, the cost of one seedlings was 1.741 ₺. If the production capacity will increase to 5 million plants the unit cost of micropropagation and conventionally produced plants will decrease to 1.105 ₺ and 1,606 ₺, respectively. By considering the examined criteria, tomato seedlings produced in vitro conditions were better in quality than conventional seedlings and could be produced in a shorter time and at a lower cost.