Establishment of a Sterile Foam Cultivation System: Elimination of Formaldehyde

Abstract

The effective elimination of formaldehyde is a prerequisite for the routine use of phenol resin foam in micropropagation. Formaldehyde which has been freed from the foam substrate during autoclaving can be eliminated by the use of ammonia solution. For routine use, a pretreatment of foam with 10 ml 2 normal NH₄OH per 70 cm³ of foam volume can be generally recommended. The pretreatment effect is tested by the use of Schiff’s reagent. Pretreated foam can be used in a foam cultivation system for rooting of various shoot tip cultures. As demonstrated with shoot tip cultures from sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) it will also support rootless cultures, and it provides an excellent transport system.