GROWTH AND WATER STATUS OF TISSUE-CULTURED STRAWBERRY PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY SALT STRESS AND DIFFERENT SUGAR CONCENTRATION IN MEDIA

We demonstrated the relationship between growth under various culture medium conditions and water status of tissue-cultured strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv. ‘Sachinoka’) plants. Water potential of the culture media was altered by different concentrations of MS salt without changing the ratio of other chemical components or sucrose concentration of media. Water potentials of strawberry crowns were similar to that of the medium under all media conditions. Plant growth estimated by plant fresh weight and the differences in water potential of tissue culture media which was measured before and after culture were highest in standard MS and 30 g L^-1 of sucrose, indicating that the plants under these conditions actively absorb water and solute from tissue culture medium. Thus, measuring water status of plant and medium may be utilized in optimizing the culture condition for strawberry plants in vitro.