In vitro establishment of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L)

Abstract

Blueberry is a shrub of the Ericaceae family, that belongs to the genus Vaccinium, which comprises several species, among them V. corymbosum. Due to the high medicinal and nutritional value of the fruit, these plants are considered of great economic value and a production alternative for upland farmers. In order to establish this species in vitro, explants were taken from adult plants (variety Avonblue) from Fraijanes Experimental Station of the University of Costa Rica, Alajuela. For in vitro establishement, cuttings were subjected to four different disinfection procedures, likewise evaluated and compared, the effect on budding of various cytokinins as 2iP (N6 [2-isopentenyl] adenine, isopentenyladenine), BAP (6 - (benzylamino) -9 - (2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine, benzylaminopurine) and CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N ‘-phenylurea, Forclorofenuron) at a concentration of 2.5 mg L-1. It was found that the use of young cuttings from mature plants allowed the highest percentage of aseptic explants when a disinfection solution was sodium hypochlorite at 1.5% and 0.1% Tween 20 for 40 minutes and the addition of CPPU induced highest number of shoots from initial explant, however, 2ip promoted the greatest length of shoot.