Micropropagation of Salix caprea L

The genus of willows (Salicaceae) comprises approximately 500 tree and shrub species, mainly growing in the northern cool and temperate zones. Because of numerous varieties and crossing progenies, it is difficult to give an exact species number. Willows prefer humid or wet sites in floodplain forests, along flowing water and on marshland. Under favourable conditions they represent a modest pioneer tree species with good vegetative and generative propagation capacity in most cases. Willows play an important role for the development of landscape structures and for maintaining the ecological balance. Several projects on Salix tree improvement were initiated because willows are used as raw material for bioenergy and pharmaceutical products, stream bank stabilization, nutrient filters, and phytoremediation. Especially the more tree-like growing willow species are of increasing interest for use in short rotation coppice plantations because of their high growth potential.