Growth and Development of Lingonberry Cultivars as Affected by In Vitro and Ex Vitro Culture Methods and Source Propagule
The morphological development of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) plants propagated either by conventional softwood cuttings or by in vitro shoot proliferation from nodal explants or by shoot regeneration from excised leaves of micropropagated shoots, was studied in cultivars `Regal', `Splendor', and `Erntedank'. Significant differences were observed between the treatments. In vitro-derived plants produced more shoots branches and rhizomes in contrast to conventional cuttings which rarely produced rhizomes. Plants propagated from cuttings had a lower number but vigorous shoots and thicker rhizomes than in vitro-derived plants. Source propagule had significant effect on multiplication rate. Another experiment evaluated the effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) application to softwood cuttings on subsequent rooting, shoot development, and rhizome production. Treating cuttings with IBA did not significantly improve rhizome formation and elongation. In vitro culture on nutrient medium apparently induces the juvenile branching characteristics that favored rhizome production. The advantage of rhizome production of in vitro-derived plants over stem cuttings varied among genotypes.