IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF VACCINIUM ULIGINOSUM L. IN MONGOLIA

Abstract

Mongolia harbors valuable populations of bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.), known as blueberry in Mongolia, which is ecologically and medicinally significant and nutritionally rich. Blueberries are considered a “superfood” worldwide due to their numerous health benefits beyond their vitamin and mineral content. They possess strong antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals, slow down aging, protect cells from damage, and enhance memory, concentration, and the nervous system, and they contain high levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins that contribute to vascular health. Nonetheless, growing public knowledge of blueberries' health advantages has fueled a greater demand for their production and everyday consumption in recent years. However, compared to other countries located at similar latitudes, Mongolia has a relatively cold climate, which limits the successful cultivation of imported blueberry varieties under such harsh environmental conditions. Although the country has abundant bog blueberry resources, climate change has led to periodic declines in yield, changing the amount available for harvest. Therefore, consumers have shown a growing interest in cultivating blueberry seedlings to meet their needs. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of producing disease-free Mongolian bog blueberry plantlets suitable for Mongolian climatic conditions through plant biotechnology methods and to establish an in vitro propagation protocol. The results demonstrated that viable micropropagated plant materials could be obtained from bog blueberry seeds and successfully cultured via nodal culture on a ¼ MS medium supplemented with 0.6 mg·L⁻¹ BA and 1.5 mg·L⁻¹ NAA. The resulting plantlets were then acclimatized in a sphagnum peat moss substrate (pH 5.5), confirming the feasibility of producing seedlings with a 75.0% survival rate. Thus, this study may provide valuable knowledge for enhancing and conserving bog blueberry biological resources and support the potential propagation and cultivation of blueberry varieties in Mongolia.