Micropropagation of Vaccinium myrtillus L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. (Ericaceae)

This thesis was designed to determine the most ideal growth medium for rapid and efficient micropropagation of Vaccinium myrtillus L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. via shoot-bud cultures. WPM supplemented with 1.0/0.1 zeatin/IBA was found to be the most effective basal medium amongst three different media tested, exerting 70% and 63.33% shoot multiplication for V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum, respectively. The most suitable sterilization agent and its application time was determined as 3% NaOCl, efffective at 20 min and 15 min for V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum, respectively. Sucrose (2%, w/v) was the most effective carbon and energy source for both species. Subsequent shoot multiplication and development studies, after eight weeks photoperiod (16/8, dark/light) application, 2.0/0.2 mg/L zeatin/IBA combinations were concluded to be the most suitable for the shoot multiplication and growth for two Vaccinium species. McCown's (WPM) was also employed as in vitro rooting medium supplemented with IBA, IAA and NAA together with AC and without AC. At this stage, the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA + 1.0 g/L AC was proven to be the best for rooting with 30% and 18.89% success for V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum respectively. Different concentrations of IBA were also employed in ex vitro rooting. The highest rooting percentage (43.33%) was obtained from 2000 mg/L application in V. myrtillus case, whilst that of V. uliginosum was 1000 mg/L with a 12.22% rooting success.