Ex Vitro Simultaneous Acclimatization and Rooting of In Vitro Propagated Tamarillo Plants (Solanum betaceum Cav.): Effect of the Substrate and Mineral Nutrition

Plants propagated by seed do not ensure genetic uniformity and are sometimes infected with diseases. In Vitro micropropagation techniques an alternative method to traditional cloning approaches for producing true-to-type pathogen-free plants. However, due the particularities of in vitro environment, these plants face many challenges, often critical their survival, adapt ex conditions. this context, four substrates two types mineral nutrition (quick-release (QRF) controlled-release (CRF) fertilizers), as well absence were evaluated process acclimatization Solanum betaceum Stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content index (CCI), dry biomass roots, shoots, entire parameters analyzed during acclimatization. The best crop performance (gs, CCI, biomass) observed consisting vermiculite plus application nutrients through a CRF, proving that has greatest positive impact on process. conditions, obtained total being significantly higher (515.0 mg 635.9 when compared untreated (119.9 mg). conditions first experiment replicated second test order assess fertilizer amount suited plantlet growth. case, results 0.4 g which showed roots (542.7 mg) (594.5 mg), was than control (183.2 165.9 mg, respectively) or other concentrations CRF (0.8 1.6 g). A similar trend found concerning CCI (5.3) gs (72.5 mmol m−2 s−1) gave also (without CRF) 0.8 (4.7 56.2 52.2 treatments. general, it tamarillo plantlets acclimatized had faster initial growth better (CCI gs), ready go greenhouse/field more quickly, thus reducing time obtain suitable market shortening production cycle.