Effects of acclimatization soil prepared from hazelnut husk and gyttja on in vitro propagated ornamental plants

The influence of a new waste resources pot growing medium(hazelnut husk + gyttja) on the acclimatization success of in vitro produced plants of four ornamental species (Rosa hybridae, Loropetalum chinense, Aloa vera, Hylocereus undatus) was assessed. Hazelnut husk was considered as a main substrate component and gyttja was plant growth promoter. Phytotoxicity test results for all the combination of hazelnut husk-gyttja pot growing medium studied was similar to the standard cocopeat mixture used as control. Mortality rate of transplanted plantlets on either hazelnut husk or gyttja substrates or standard cocopeat were higher for woody species Rosa hybridae and Loropetalum chinense compared to the succulent species Aloa vera and Hylocereus undatus. Findings of this study demonstrated that incorporation of gyttja into the hazelnut husk at a rate of 2% and 5% had similar effects on survival rate, plant height, shoot and root dry biomass, and Dickson Quality Index for all tested plant species, with to the cocopeat control plants. Therefore, hazelnut husk and gyttja could be successfully used as pot growing medium for ex vitro acclimatization, after pre-tested for the specific plant species.