Submitted to: Plant Propagators Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 16, 1996
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract:
The current status of commercial micropropagation in the U.S. was determined by contacting laboratories in March and April, 1996. Commercial micropropagation laboratories are located in at least 26 states with most situated near important production areas of the horticultural industries that they service. Florida leads in plants produced, followed by California, Washington and Oregon. California and Florida each have more than 15 laboratories; all other states have fewer than 10 each. Production of individual laboratories varies from a few thousand to tens of millions of plants per year. Small laboratories (<500,000 units per year) account for about 60% of the slightly more than 110 laboratories identified; 24 of these small labs produce only 50,000 units per year or fewer. About 30% are medium size laboratories (0.5-2.5 million units per year); large laboratories (2.5-6.0 million units) and very large laboratories (>6,000,000 per year) account for the remaining 10%. Total production of micropropagated plants is now more than 120 million plants per year. Foliage plants, the largest category, have ferns and spathiphyllum as the main crops. Orchids are the leading greenhouse flower crop. Herbaceous perennials are a rapidly increasing segment of the production with hosta and daylilies leading crops. Ericaceous plants account for more than 23% and shade and ornamental trees are another 22% of the trees and shrubs now micropropagated. Potatoes are about 90% of the micropropagated vegetable crops whereas fruit crops are primarily blueberry and raspberry.
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