1999 Volume 68 Issue 2 Pages 397-401
The conditions to eliminate the operation of acclimatization of tissue-cultured strawberry plantlets were examined. Strawberry plantlets cultured in the rooting medium following propagation culture were transplanted into small pots without the operation of acclimatization, and were raised on the shelf system with manual irrigation. The percentage of plantlets taking root and surviving in the pots after transplantation increased, as the culture period in the rooting medium was lengthened. And, the survival percentage of the plantlets, cultured for 54 days in the rooting medium, after potting reached 95 to 100%. Even in cases where the plantlets were cultured for only 35 days in the rooting medium, the plantlets which had five or more leaves, or whose longest roots measured 40 mm or more were all able to survive after potting. In the suitable season for potting, from late April to early June, the plantlets, cultured for 54 days in the rooting medium, were potted several times without the operation of acclimatization, and were raised with cheesecloth cover and water spraying three times per day by microsprinklers. Consequently, 96 to 100% of these plantlets survived, indicating that the operation of acclimatization of well-cultured strawberry plantlets is not necessary prior to transplanting them into the field.
