ACCLIMATIZATION OF FATINIA AND KALINA PLANTS MICROCLONALLY PROPAGATED IN VITRO TO EX VITRO CONDITIONS

This study investigated the vegetative development and open-field acclimatization of Fatinia (Physocarpus opulifolius) and Kalina (Viburnum spp.) plants after in vitro propagation and subsequent transplantation into various substrates under greenhouse conditions. Five different substrate mixtures (peat:perlite, peat:biogumus, peat:perlite:sand, soil:biogumus, and soil:peat:biogumus) were tested, and key vegetative parameters such as root number, plant height, and number of leaves were analyzed under each condition. In addition, the growth dynamics of the plants were monitored at 10-day intervals over a 40-day period during the gradual acclimatization to open-field conditions. The results demonstrated that the peat:perlite:sand (1:1:1) substrate was the most effective medium for both species, providing significantly higher root formation, vegetative biomass growth, and leaf production compared with the other substrates. In Fatinia, the number of roots reached 8.3 and stem length increased to 34.8 cm within four weeks, whereas in Kalina these values were 7.5 roots and 29.8 cm, respectively. Vegetative development under greenhouse conditions was stable, and the plants exhibited a high level of adaptability to the open environment.