MICROPROPAGATION OF SEVERAL LINGONBERRY CULTIVARS

Micropropagation of lingonberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., has become a popular method of propagation for commercial growers offering lingon berry plants; however, recommendations for basal media, plant growth r egulators, and culture conditions vary substantially among publication s and commercial propagators. We found that lingonberry cultivars diff ered in shoot growth with various concentrations of the cytokinin 2ip (N6-[2-isopentenyl]adenine), and that the addition of the auxin IAA (i ndoleacetic acid) did not increase shoot quality or multiplication rat es of 'Sussi,' 'Erntedank,' or 'Koralle.' In addition, tests using sev eral concentrations of IBA (3-indolebutyric acid) in powder form did n ot enhance rooting of microcuttings. Woody Plant Medium containing 10 muM 2ip was an effective growing medium for the three lingonberry cult ivars tested. Higher concentrations of 2ip favor increased shoot devel opment, but the clonal fidelity of these shoots may be suspect. Stabil ized cultures with consistent shoot production from 3-node stem sectio n explants have been established for eleven lingonberry cultivars.