Studies on the in vitro proliferation stage of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. O’Neal and Duke)

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), a berry fruit whose cultivation is widespread in the world especially in the mainland of North America and also in Peru, Mexico and European countries, is one of the members of the Ericaceae family. The source of the purple color is delphinidin derivative pigments and antioxidant polyphenols increase the importance of this fruit in terms of health. Blueberry, whose annual production in the world has exceeded 2 million tons, is produced in Turkey as 6620 tons in 5454 decares of area. Propagation by tissue culture is preferred in the production of healthy plant material for the increasing need for sapling. Shoot tips cultured in media containing MS basic nutrient medium + 2 mg·L-1 zeatin + 30 g·L-1 sucrose + 6.5 g·L-1 agar in the first development stage were transferred to media with different contents after 4 weeks and proliferation experiments were established. Propagation rates were determined in Duke and O’Neal varieties by adding 2 mg·L-1 zeatin to MS, DKW and WPM nutrient media. The highest number of shoots was obtained from O’Neal variety 16.44 shoots per explant in the 3rd subculture in the medium containing DKW + 2 mg·L-1 zeatin + 30 g·L-1 sucrose + 6.5 g·L-1 agar and pH 5.5.