A system for large scale production of chrysanthemum using microponics with the supplement of silver nanoparticles under light-emitting diodes

A microponic culture system, combining micro-propagation and hydroponics, could reduce the drawbacks of micro-propagation system such as being prone to contamination, being resource-intensive and require large areas, etc. In this study, chrysanthemum shoots (3 cm in length) were cultured in a microponic system and micro-propagation system. The growth of shoots cultured on half-strength sugar-free liquid MS medium supplemented with 7.5 ppm silver nanoparticles under 70% red LED combined with 30% blue LED were the highest among tested concentrations. Results of qualitative and quantitative tests of microbial contents in the microponic culture by 4 testing methods indicated that at concentration of 7.5 ppm silver nanoparticles effectively reduces microbial counts of 8 tested bacteria (Corynebacterium sp., Enterobacter sp., Arthrobacter sp., Agrobacterium sp., Xanthomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Micrococcus sp.) and 3 fungi (Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and Alterneria sp.). After 12 weeks at the nursery stage, the chrysanthemum plants derived from microponics began to bear flower-buds. Chrysanthemums produced by the microponic system started flowering after 15 weeks, which was 1 week earlier than those produced by in vitro micropropagation. Taken together, a microponic system was developed and tested successfully. The shoots derived from microponic culture could flower normally at 1-week earlier than the micropropagation-derived ones. The approach was proved to be both cost and time saving.