Nursery Propagation Systems for High-Quality Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) Plug Plant Production from Micropropagated, Soilless-Grown Mother Plants

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horticulturae

Article Nursery Propagation Systems for High-Quality Strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) Plug Plant Production from Micropropagated, Soilless-Grown Mother Plants

Abstract

The commercial propagation of strawberries is increasingly constrained by the incidence of both established and emerging soilborne pathogens, particularly under soil cultivation systems. Micropropagation represents an effective strategy to ensure the production of virus-free, true-to-type mother plants suitable for high-efficiency propagation. In this study, micropropagated mother plants of four short-day cultivars ('Francesca', 'Silvia', 'Lauretta', and 'Dina') and one ever-bearing advanced selection ('AN12,13,58') were cultivated under a controlled soilless system. Quantitative parameters including number of runners per plant, runner length, and number of tips per runner and per plant were assessed to evaluate propagation performance. Micropropagated mother plants exhibited a significantly higher stoloniferous potential compared to in vivo-derived mother plants (frigo plants type A), with the latter producing approximately fifty percent fewer propagules. Rooted tips of 'Dina' were further assessed under different fertigation regimes. The NPK twenty-twenty-twenty nutrient solution enhanced photosynthetic activity and shoot and root biomass (length, diameter, and volume via WinRHIZO analysis). These results confirm the suitability of micropropagated mother plants grown in soilless conditions for efficient, high-quality clonal propagation and support the integration of such systems into certified nursery production schemes.

One. Introduction

Two. Materials and Methods

Two point two. Production of Micropropagated and In Vivo Mother Plants

Two point three. Soilless Cultivation of the Mother Plants

Two point four. Nursery Tips Production of cv 'Dina'

Two point five. Data Collected to Identify the Stoloniferous Efficiency of the Different Mother Plants

Two point six. Qualitative Response of 'Dina' Nursery Tip Production

Two point seven. Statistical Analysis

Three. Results and Discussion

Three point two. Stolonifer Capacity of Micropropagated Mother Plants of Different Genotypes

Three point three. Stolonifer Capacity of Micropropagated Mother Plant of cv. 'Dina' Transplanted on Two Dates

Three point four. Four Fertilization Strategy: Plant Architecture of 'Dina' Plug Plants' Epigeal Apparatus

Three point four point one. Leaf Fresh and Dry Weight of 'Dina' Plug Plants

Three point four point two. Lightness, Chroma Value, Hue Angle Values of Three Leaves of 'Dina' Rooted Tips

Three point four point three. Root System of 'Dina' Plug Plants

Four. Conclusions

Overview

The document examines the role of micropropagation and soilless cultivation in producing high-quality strawberry plug plants. It evaluates several strawberry cultivars, demonstrating how micropropagated mother plants outperformed traditional in vivo methods in terms of propagation efficiency and plant quality.

Key Points

1Micropropagation enhances the production of virus-free strawberry plants
2Soilless cultivation reduces soil pathogen risks and improves plant quality
3Different fertigation regimes significantly affect the growth of rooted tips
4The study highlights the importance of utilizing high-quality mother plants for efficient nursery propagation
5Micropropagated plants offer a sustainable solution to current propagative challenges in strawberry cultivation

Details

Authors: Valentina Morresi, Franco Capocasa, Francesca Balducci, Jacopo Diamanti, Bruno Mezzetti
Category: Biology and Natural Sciences

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