Micropropagation of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) through shoot tip cultures: Short communication

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine an efficient micropropagation system for cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.). Cranberry cultivar Howes was successfully established in vitro using mercuric chloride in a concentration of 0.15% as a sterilization solution. Anderson’s rhododendron medium (AN), half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium (half-MS) and McCown woody plant medium (WPM) containing the cytokinin zeatin in concentrations 0.5, 1 or 2 mg/l were tested. Generally, the highest multiplication rate (2.7) was obtained for cv. Howes on AN medium with the concentration 1 mg/l of zeatin. The effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphtalen acetic acid (NAA) on root induction were tested in WPM medium. The percentage of rooting was 100% for NAA, 86% for IBA and 81% for IAA. From the tested variants, auxin NAA also promoted the highest development of good quality roots (more than 5) per shoot without callus formation.