Intensive production of juvenile cuttings by mother microplant culture in Hydrangea macrophylla "Leuchtfeuer"

Abstract

The vegetative propagation of hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla "Leuchtfeuer") should be explored through the architectural concepts of woody plants. The formation and continued culture of mother microplants in the greenhouse with high relative humidity and long days make up the new propagation method. Vegetative growth is characterized by the prolific production of homogenous cuttings as basal shoots in which the morphology of the axis is similar to that of plants produced by germination. There is considerable capacity for high levels of production, and it is a possible alternative to in vitro and traditional propagation. The morphogenetic basis of the functioning of these cultures is discussed in relation to juvenility and differentiation in woody plants. Keywords: morphogenesis, Hydrangea macrophylla, vegetative propagation, juvenility.