Effect of Media Composition on Growth and Rooting of Highbush Bluebeny Cuttings

摘要

Shoot growth and root ball developments on several media compositions were evaluated to establish efficient cutting propagation methods of highbush blueberries, which had not been introduced and cultivated in Korea. Shoot growth of highbush blueberrycuttings were simultaneously monitored for 4 months after cutting and their rooting were measured with arbitrary grades to calculate root ball developments. Shoot growth was favorable in sole peatmoss and mixed peatmoss containing 25% volume ratio of sand. Root ball developments were significantly enhanced by media compositions especially by the mixed ratio of peatmoss, indicating significant relationship with the pH levels of cutting media. The compositions of respective rooting medium also affected the post-transplant cutting growth. The cuttings, grown on perlite or vermiculite, showed lower shoot growth rates after transplanting rather than on peatmoss-based media. Our results show that peatmoss-based media are the most suitable for highbush blueberry cutting propagation, but more balanced nutrient and water management are needed to achieve higher cutting propagation efficiencies.