Influence of light conditions on the morphogenetic and biochemical response of selected ornamental plant species under in vitro conditions: a mini-review

In vitro tissue culture technique, especially micropropagation, is attracting increasing attention in the production of ornamental plants. This technique will probably dominate the horticultural market in the near future. Light is one of the several factors affecting the success of in vitro plant tissue cultures. It directly affects the widely understood morphogenetic response of the explant, i.e., the ability of the explant to grow or regenerate, produce roots, etc. Lighting conditions provided during the in vitro stage may also greatly affect the plant vigor after transferring to nonsterile conditions. Moreover, the necessity of providing artificial light significantly contributes to the total cost of maintaining tissue cultures (related to energy consumption and the need to cool down the heat generated by lamps). Light quantity (intensity) and quality (spectral composition) are the two main parameters that determine its influence on in vitro cultures. This impact depends on the species and other accompanying factors. The aim of this mini-review is to summarize information on the influence of light on the morphogenetic and biochemical response of explants of some selected ornamental plant species grown under in vitro conditions.