For over 30 years, micropropagation has been an important production sector for Italian nurseries. There are 25 commercial micropropagation laboratories in Italy, producing over 50 million plants (2022 census) of high genetic-health quality which include fruit species and rootstocks, cut flower species, garden and indoor ornamental species, and vegetable species. Today micropropagation, and in vitro culture in general, are also important for biodiversity conservation, enhanced plant production, and territory protection. In vitro techniques have had a significant impact on the horticultural sector: they facilitate the introduction of innovative products and the distribution of materials having higher quality, physiological, and health standards compared to traditional techniques, and they also make it possible to schedule production. The workshop aims to highlight the potential of the voluntary certification system within the global market, emphasizing the opportunities that can arise in the horticultural sector from the growing use of micro propagated material. The production process of micropropagated plants, and the sector’s prospects for a future increasingly focused on disease control and environmentally friendly practices, will also be addressed and discussed.

In collaboration with A. Vitale