Micropropagation and field evaluation of seven strawberry genotypes suitable for agro-climatic condition of Bangladesh

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is one of the important and popular fruits in the temperate countries of the world due to its fragrance, taste and nutritional properties. Due to its popularity and increasing demand in Bangladesh, an experiment was conducted to establish a rapid in vitro clonal propagation of seven strawberry genotypes and their field evaluation under Bangladesh condition. Runner tips of seven strawberry genotypes viz. AOG, JP-2, JP-3, Camarosa, Sweet charley, Giant Mountain and Festival were cultured in vitro for multiple shoot proliferation and root induction. Proliferation of runner tips was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing three different concentrations (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg/l) of BA with 0.5 mg/l 6-ferfuryl amino purine (KIN) or gibberellic acid (GA3). The best shoot proliferation was obtained from cultures grown on medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BA with 0.5 mg/l KIN. Microcuttings were rooted on half strength MS medium with 0.5 to 1.5 mg/l indole butyric acid (IBA) or indole acetic acid (IAA). Maximum rooting (90 to 98%) with 9 to 12 roots/cultures was achieved at 1.0 mg/l IBA. The plantlets, thus developed were hardened and successfully stablished in soil. AOG was found to be the most responsive genotype followed by JP-2 and JP-3.   Key words: Strawberry, shoot multiplication, adventitious rooting, field establishment.