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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » National Clonal Germplasm Repository » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264374
Title: Improving Mineral Nutrition of Micropropagated Red Raspberry

Author
item POOTHONG, SUKALYA - Oregon State University
item Reed, Barbara

Submitted to: Society for In Vitro Biology Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2011
Publication Date: 6/2/2011
Citation: Poothong, S., Reed, B.M. 2011. Improving Mineral Nutrition of Micropropagated Red Raspberry. Society for In Vitro Biology Proceedings. 47:S69.

Interpretive Summary: Many nursery crops including red raspberry are rapidly multiplied using a tissue culture technique called micropropagation. Red raspberry cultivars are genetically different from each other and many do not grow well in tissue culture. Some are stunted, or display unusual growth characteristics, poor leaf color or spots on the most commonly used growth medium. These symptoms indicate suboptimum growth medium or growing conditions resulting in low quality plants. This study investigated the effect of mineral nutrition on five red raspberry cultivars using combinations of nitrogen, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, trace elements and iron. Plant quality, multiplication rate, shoot height, and 10 other growth characteristics were evaluated. Results varied by cultivar, but all had improved growth or appearance with some treatments. Specific nutrients were associated with improvements in plant growth and development. Future experiments will optimize concentrations of the most influential mineral formulations and improved growth media will be developed for use in red raspberry micropropagation.

Technical Abstract: In vitro propagation is important for fast multiplication of a wide range of nursery crops, including red raspberry. The variation in genetic background of the many red raspberry cultivars makes it difficult to successfully use one growth medium for all. Although most cultivars will grow on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS), some are stunted, or display hyperhydricity, chlorosis, callus, leaf spots, reddening or necrosis. These symptoms indicate suboptimum growth medium or growing conditions resulting in low quality shoot cultures. Mineral nutrition is a crucial component of growth media and the poor growth symptoms are likely caused by suboptimum concentrations of important mineral salts. This study investigated the effect of mineral nutrition using five MS salt solutions in a 5-dimensional experimental design. We tested five red raspberry cultivars with 46 treatments selected from the design sphere of five concentrations each of NH4NO3, KNO3, meso elements (CaCl2, KH2PO4 and MgSO4), minor elements (Zn-Mn-Cu-Co-Mo-B-I), and iron. Shoot cultures were grown for three 3-week transfers before data was taken. Plant quality, multiplication rate, shoot height, and 10 other parameters were evaluated. Results varied by cultivar for some characteristics, but all cultivars had improved growth or appearance with some treatments compared to MS controls. Specific nutrients were associated with changes in growth characteristics and some resulted in improved plant quality. Future experiments will optimize concentrations of the most influential salt formulations and improved media will be developed for use in red raspberry micropropagation.