Softwood cutting propagation and micropropagation of deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)

Abstract

Use of deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum L. [Ericaceae]) in native plant landscaping and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) for breeding have increased, but difficulties with vegetative propagation have presented problems for those who wish to use this species. We studied rooting success of deerberry softwood stem cuttings treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in talc at concentrations of 0, 1000, 3000, or 8000 ppm. We also evaluated the influence of 100 mg/l (0.004 oz/qt) of Sequestrene 138 ethylenediamine Bis 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid ferric-sodium salt or Sequestrene 330 sodium ferric diethylenetriaminepentaacetate on the growth of in vitro shoot cultures of deerberry cultured on woody plant medium (WPM) with 9 µM zeatin (E)-2-methyl-4-(7H-purin-6-ylamino) but-2-en-1-ol (ZT), 1% (w/v) agar, and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Exogenous IBA application to softwood stem cuttings failed to enhance rooting of deerberry, which averaged 30% across all IBA treatments. In vitro shoots of deerberry multiplied at a rate of 5 shoots per initial shoot explant when cultured on medium supplemented with Sequestrene 330 and on medium without additional iron. Deerberry cultivated on medium supplemented with Sequestrene 138 or 330 had greater quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and performance index (PI) values than did non-supplemented control medium. About 85% of the micropropagated shoots rooted, indicating that deerberry can be efficiently propagated by micropropagation using WPM and ZT. Supplementation with Sequestrene 330 improved the photosynthetic capacity and visual appearance of shoot cultures. Those interested in clonally propagating superior deerberry genotypes can easily do so using micropropagation.