ASSESSMENT OF CO2-BALANCE OF IN-VITRO PLA NTS BY CONTINUOUS LONG-TERMMEASUREMENT

A system for continuous assessment of CO2 gas exchange of plantlets un der sterile in vitro conditions is described. Relative air humidity, a ir temperature, irradiance, and CO2 concentration can be controlled. T he system allows long-term measurements without negatively affecting t he plantlets. Preliminary experiments using pome granate plantlets (Pu nica granatum L.) indicate a positive CO2-balance at 100 mumol m-2 s-1 irradiance level and 350 mul l-1 CO2 concentration, respectively.