Commercial in vitro plant production in Germany in 1985–2004

Abstract

This report surveys the commercial in vitro plant production in Germany from 1985–2004. From twelve commercial tissue culture laboratories starting in 1984, the number increased to 27–30 companies in Germany at the present time. Eight out of them produced more than one million plants per year, and altogether these eight companies account for 92% of total production. Smaller laboratories cloning pathogen-free stock plants for traditional vegetative propagation or breeding purposes are often associated with plant breeding companies or nurseries. Between 1985 and 1992, the total production increased from 5 to nearly 20 million plants per year. Followed by five years of stagnation, in the last seven years (1998–2004) a drastic rise in total production to more than 48 million plants in 2004 was recorded. This steep increase was entirely due to the increasing in vitro production of Phalaenopsis, which now occupies the leading position in flowering pot plants in the Netherlands (Anonymous 2003, Vakblad voor de Bloemisterij 21a: 136). In 2004, German in vitro laboratories produced more than 31 million plants of this orchid. Other important plant genera are Fragaria (3.9 million), Rhododendron (1.0 million), and Gentiana (1.9 million). Plant groups of increasing importance are aquarium plants and garden perennials.