ASSESSMENT OF STRAWBERRY PLANT CONDITION DURING IN-VITRO GROWTH USINGTHE LUMINESCENCE METHOD

The long-term effects of in vitro culturing on strawberry (Fragaria L. ) plants were examined by the delayed fluorescence (DF) of leaf chloro phyll. A nondestructive method, which does not upset axenic conditions , was developed for monitoring DF from test-tube plants. The method en ables one to differentiate between otherwise indistinguishable plant t raits, to predict plant death, and to detect the beneficial effect of a high Ca(NO3)2 level in the medium on plant viability in in vitro cul ture.