Protocol for Micropropagation of Selected Vaccinium spp

The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) belongs to the genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) and is widely cultivated in various parts of the world. Most of the high bush blueberry cultivars (V. corymbosum) grow in the midwestern, eastern and central United States and are also cultivated in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They are commercially and biologically important as small fruits for their high content of vitamins, bioactive organic substances with antibacterial and anticancer effects, anthocyanin pigments, and also as an excellent source of antioxidants. There is an increase in both interest and efforts to establish the production plantations of some of the cultivars of this species, suitable for cultivation as an alternative fruit crops, as medicinal plants and landscape ornamental ground cover plants. Large-scale production of high quality plants is needed for commercial plantation establishment. Traditional vegetative propagation of high bush blueberry by cuttings has not been successful due to poor rooting ability, considerable demand for large amount of mother plants, their limited seasonal growth and relatively high price. Generative reproduction does not produce homogeneous progeny.