Effect of Actisil (Hydroplus™), organic supplements, and pH of the medium on the micropropagation of Vaccinium corymbosum

Abstract

The effect of commercial Hydroplus™ Actisil, coconut water, coconut milk, and pH of the WPM mediumon the micropropagation of V. corymbosum ‘Liberty’ was studied. Three experiments were performed withdifferent concentrations of silicon Hydroplus™ Actisil (Si), coconut water (CW), coconut milk (CM), anddifferent pH as a stress factor. Si was applied at a concentration of 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg dm–3. The highest explant (2.02 cm) with the highest number of new shoots (1.91) and fresh weight (55.16 g) was obtained on WPM medium with the addition of Si in concentration 200 mg dm–3. In experiment 2, similar to 0.1 mg dm–3 zeatin explant growth was achieved when 15% CW was added to the WPM medium (2.13 cm). The use of CM did not have a positive effect on blueberry growth in vitro. The results of experiment 3 indicated that explants of blueberry better developed when pH was lower (5.0) with the highest number of new shoots (2.85) and fresh weight (95.67g). However, there were no significant differences in plant height between pH used. The application of 200 mg dm–3 Actisil benefits the negative effect of higher pH of the WPM medium on micropropagation of blueberry in case of plant height, fresh weight, and biochemical parameters (proline, malondialdehyde – MDA and catalase – CAT activity).