Micropropagation of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) on chemically sterilized media

Micropropagation of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is a widely used technique to produce plantlets in commercial horticulture. Unfortunately, in contrast to propagation based on runners, it is also an expensive method and may lead to obtaining plants with changed phenotype. In order to reduce such problems, the influence of chemical method of medium sterilization (application of commercial home bleach – ACE®) instead of autoclaving on the development of in vitro cultures of four strawberry cultivars (‘Elsanta’, ‘Elkat’, ‘Senga Sengana’, ‘Polka’) was examined. The presented study proved that sodium hypochlorite added into the hot medium is very effective, making aseptic environment agent. Applied in tested dose (2 cm3 of ACE® per dm–3) is not harmful to strawberry in vitro cultures and usually causes positive changes in their development (reduced formation of adventitious shoots and callus), except for ‘Elsanta’ cultivar. Thus the application of media sterilized with sodium hypochlorite is beneficial and cost effective and may be recommended both for commercial and especially amateur strawberry micropropagation