Effect of Light on Rhizogenesis of Forest Berry Plants during Clonal Micropropagation

Introduction. Forest berry plants are popular on the food market and in pharmacy for their high nutritional and medicinal value. Plantations of forest berry plants can proliferate on unused lands, including depleted peatlands. Clonal micropropagation is the most effective method for obtaining large quantities of high quality planting material. Light-emitting diodes are highly effective for clonal micropropagation. The research objective was to study the effect of different spectral ranges on the process of root formation of forest berry plants in vitro. Study objects and methods. The research featured regenerant plants of half-highbush blueberry, arctic bramble, American cranberry, European cranberry, lingonberry, and Kamchatka bilberry of different cultivars. A set of experiments made it possible to study the effect of lighting type on the growth and development of the root system of forest berry plants in vitro using white fluorescent lamps, white spectrum LED lamps, and LED lamps with a combination of white, red, and blue spectra at the in vitro rooting stage of clonal micropropagation. Results and its discussion. The largest number (3.4–14.6 pcs.) and the maximum total length (10.0–156.9 cm) of roots were observed under LED lamps with a combination of white, red, and blue spectra. The effect was by 1.1–2.8 and 2.0–4.5 times higher than in the case of white-spectrum LED lamps, and by 2.3–7.0 and 3.3–14.9 times than in the case of fluorescent lamps. Variety and shape proved to have no significant effect on biometric indicators. Conclusion. LED lamps had a positive effect on the process of rhizogenesis of forest berry plants during clonal micropropagation. They appeared to be more effective than fluorescent lamps. The combination of white, blue, and red spectra increased the biometric parameters of plants at the stage of in vitro rooting.