Vegetative Potential of Plants of Raspberry 'Willamette' Grown on Different Growing Media and Treated with Different Foliar Fertilizers

Abstract

Massive dieback of raspberry plantings in full production due to Phytophthora root rot has been observed over the past years, leading to a demand for a high volume of quality planting material for replacing fields. Quality nursery plants must not only be certified to be free of pathogens and be true-to-type, but must also be vigorous enough to ensure good success after field planting. The raspberry cultivar 'Willamette' was propagated by in vitro micro-propagation under fully controlled conditions. Over a two-year period of study, after acclimatization, plants were grown on two different growth media (Seedling and Steckmedium) and were treated with three different foliar fertilizers (Wuxal, Murtonik and Ferticare). More vegetative growth, in terms of thickness of the plant basal section and aboveground plant height, was evidenced in plants grown on Seedling medium, whereas the foliar fertilizers Murtonik and Wuxal had the strongest effect on thickness and plant height, respectively. In line with regular plant growth dynamics, plant thickness was greater in the second year of study, whereas plants were taller in the first year of study.