Influence of propagation method and indole-3-butyric acid on growth and development of in vitro- and ex vitro-derived lingonberry plants

The effects of two propagation methods and four indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations were studied in two cultivars of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.). Cultivars Regal and Erntedank, propagated by conventional softwood cuttings (SC) and adventitious shoot regeneration from excised leaves of micro-propagated shoots (LC), were evaluated for growth and morphology. Significant two- and three-way interactions for shoot and rhizome characteristics were observed among the treatments. The LC plants produced shorter and less-vigorous shoots but had more stems, branches, leaves and rhizomes in contrast to conventional cuttings, which rarely produced rhizomes. IBA had an effect on shoot and rhizome morphology, but not on the frequency of rhizome formation. In vitro culture on zeatin-containing nutrient medium apparently induces the juvenile branching characteristics that favored enhanced rhizome production. The advantage of shoot and rhizome production of adventitiously produced LC plants over SC plants varied between the genotypes. Erntedank plants had better shoot growth and rhizome development across propagation methods than did Regal plants.