Anatomic analyses and biomass of strawberry plants cultivated in vitro and ex vitro

This work was carried out at the laboratory and greenhouse of the Universidade de Passo Fundo (Brazil), to evaluate the strawberry leaves morphology of cv. Vila Nova during rooting in vitro (growing on 15; 30, 45, and 60 g L-1 of sucrose), and to evaluate the strawberry leaves morphology during the acclimatization ex vitro and in vivo. A better in vitro plants development was found by using 30 and 45 g L-1 of sucrose, while no differences were found for the leaf morphology in different sucrose concentrations. Leaves from plants grown in vitro showed mesophyl tissues differentiation when compared to the in vivo plants. The latter showed a decrease of the palisade and spongy tissues, as well as, a decrease of the epicuticular wax layer. After eight weeks of acclimatization ex vitro, the leaves showed a similar morphology to the in vitro plant leaves, however, some characteristics of in vivo plants were still present.

Fragaria X ananassa Duch.; micropropagation; sucrose; morphology of leaves; acclimatization