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Sterile culture for healthy mother plants for organic ornamental horticulture
Project
Project code: 2812OE026
Contract period: 01.07.2015
- 30.06.2018
Budget: 279,259 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Producers of organic ornamentals like Pelargonium need cuttings for vegetative propagation. Compact, well branched and homogenous crops are based on varieties which cannot be propagated by seed. Therefore the cultivation of mother plants is a must. Conventional producers keep these plants in an optimal phytosanitary state. Elite plants are cultivated in vitro as starting material for a virusfree, certified production. Currently cuttings for organic production of ornamentals are mainly obtained from conventional propagation via special exemptions. The aim of our project is to establish a sterile production system based on operating ressources which are approved according to EU-organic-farming regulations. Micropropagation in a sterile environment based on natural growthmedia and regulators will help to overcome difficulties with the availability of healthy starting material for vegetative propagation.
Results
The “BioVitro” research approach initially consisted of two project parts, an in-vitro culture section dealing with the preculture of elite material and greenhouse experiments on mother plant development and cutting-production under ecological production conditions. Work was carried out with three selected genera of ornamental plants (Chrysanthemum, Pelargonium and Petunia). For the first time ever, the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation were taken into account on plant in-vitro culture. Only FiBL-listed fertilizers and "products and by-products of plant
origin" were used as operating resources. The term BioVitro is suggested for an ecological in vitro culture approach. In addition to the renouncement of mineral nutrient salts, BioVitro includes a renunciation from the use of synthetic growth regulators in plant in-vitro culture. Furthermore culture establishment should be based on approved operating resources. Ethanol, chlorine or mercury are prohibited from being used. For Chrysanthemum a first working BioVitro cycle (establishment, maintenance / propagation, transfer) could be demonstrated. After organic preculture, the growth rates observed reach the level of conventional methods. The culture is established through the transfer of shoot
tips (<2 mm) directly from the greenhouse without any treatment. Pelargoniums are more difficult. Under BioVitro conditions, only lateral shoots can so far be used to build up stocks. The establishment of the culture via shoot tips directly from the greenhouse is not yet successful. A BioVitro culture medium was developed for Petunia, which differs significantly in its composition from the substrate for Chrysanthemum. Callus and adventitious shoot formations
were observed on the medium. The sub-cultivation under BioVitro specifications on an ecological medium is pending.
Transfer of Chrysanthemum and Pelargonium (Petunia without repetition) from BioVitro to organic substrates under ecological production conditions is very unproblematic. Plants deriving from BioVitro were perceived as being extremely robust, a connection with the organic preculture is suspected. Organic mother plant stocks of Chrysanthemum (2 varieties) and Pelargonium (1 variety) were built up and harvested. For Pelargonium, two generations of mother plants were successfully cultivated. From a nutritional point of view, the variant with liquid fertilization (Chrysanthemum) as well as the one with full supply at the start of the culture (Pelargonium) brought satisfactory quantities of cuttings. Yields from both crops just reach the values of conventional comparisons (literature data). Rooting capacity (physiological quality) of the organic cuttings was good.
Under the structural conditions of the research site, phytopathological specifications in the mother plant culture could not always be met. Pest infestation (thrips) was observed and controlled with beneficial insects. The respective harvest batches were not always of marketable quality. Only in the course of the successful work with Chrysanthemum did an effective PR work became meaningful and necessary during the course of the project (third part of the project). With the presentation of a “minimal laboratory” at the IPM, Essen and at the Bundesgartenschau (Heilbronn), the completely new bio-based cultural approach could be brought closer to the professional world and interested consumers. Product and video presentations on BioVitro at numerous events in the field of organic ornamentals made the necessary educational work on the subject.
Section overview
Subjects
- Horticulture
- Specialised crops
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
