Production of high quality, healthy ornamental crops through meristem culture

Abstract

An increasing number of ornamental crops are being multiplied in vitro. In this article, the application of meristern culture to plants free from viruses is reviewed and is shown to be useful and cost-effective. First, a literature survey is given on results ofmeristem culture applied to ornamentals and on damage due to virus diseases. Secondly trials and results with lily, Aistroemeria and Delphinium and their viruses are discussed.Virus-free plants have a considerable surplus value compared with infected plants. Additional advantages are that a virus-free crop cannot be a source of contamination for other varieties of the same crop, and that there are no phytosanitary limitations. Virus-free does not mean resistant, however, and re-infection is possible, but can be prevented by strict measures.Meristem culture applied to in vitro cultures oflily, Alstroemeria and Delphinium always yielded a much lower amount of virus-free plantlets than the usual procedure, i.e. meristem culture applied to plants grown in the glasshouse.

Propagation in vitro of alstroemeria ligtu hybrid through direct organogenesis from leaf base

“…Alstroemeria was propagated formerly by rhizome division but this method is not efficient and involves a high risk of viral dissemination (Van Zaayen 1995). Therefore, in vitro propagation techniques based on rhizome multiplication in vitro have been developed (Gabryszewska & Hempel 1985;Hakkaart & Versluijs 1988;Van Zaayen et al 1992;Bond & Alderson 1993). However, the multiplication rate was still not satisfactory (Lin et al 1998).…”

Signalling in Rhizobacteria-Plant Interactions

“…During in vitro propagation of statice (Limonium sinuatum) the presence of an endophytic Flavobacterium sp. promoted growth and rooting (Van Zaayen et al 1992). Such beneficial effects of microbial inoculants in in vitro cultures of plant tissue explants have been noted also in other species.…”

Root Ecology

“…In radish several rhizobacterial strains strongly increased average plant weight under non-sterile conditions, but failed to do so in a gnotobiotic system in which bacteria were introduced into sterilized soil (Kloepper and Schroth 1981). promoted growth and rooting (Van Zaayen et al 1992). During in vitro propagation of statice (Limonium sinuatum) the presence of an endophytic Flavobacterium sp.…”