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Experiments were conducted to investigate the possibility of introducing greenhouse germination media and plug trays in replacement of agar for autotrophic micropropagation of strawberry plants in vitro at stage 3. In the first experiment, agar, plug mix, vermiculite, and perlite, each supplemented with 1/2 MS solution of different pH levels, were compared as supporting materials. The growth of strawberry plantlets was superior in both plug mix of pH 5.70 and vermiculite of pH 6.50. In the second experiment, plantlets growth in the 60 ㎝ × 30 ㎝ × 15 ㎝ acrylic culture container, which was constructed to hold a 56 ㎝ × 28 ㎝ plug tray, were compared to that in Magenta GA7 boxes. The plantlets in acrylic boxes were planted in a 128-cell plug tray filled with plug mix and those in the Magenta boxes were planted either in agar or in plug mix filled in a 128-cell plug tray cut to fit in. All the plantlets were supplied with the same amount of 1/2 MS as a nutrient solution. The plantlet growth both in vitro and ex vitro after transplanting was superior in the large acrylic box to Magenta boxes. From these results, it is expected that replacement of agar with greenhouse mixes along with plug trays will save a significant amount of labor involved at later stages of micropropagation. In addition, plants micropropagated in this way can be directly used in later cultural systems such as plug or hydroponic cultures.
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