From the laboratory to the land: the case of disease-free bulbs

In the project Vitale teelt 2030, Iribov is working with the key players in the Dutch flower bulb sector on the shared vision of a one-way system of bulb crops. In the current circular system, diseases and pests are built up and passed on to the next crop. By starting each cultivation with clean starting materials derived from tissue culture, diseases and pests are not retained, resulting in fewer crop failures and less to no use of pesticides. 

Conventional cultivation system of hyacinthus

Hyacinth cultivation is a process in which bulbs are planted, harvested, processed, stored, and replanted year after year. This cycle transfers diseases and pests between field and storage, causing the bulbs to become increasingly diseased each year. Crop rotation could reduce disease pressure, but space in the Netherlands is limited and under pressure.

As a result, pests and diseases are suppressed using pesticides and other means, yet the bulbs remain unhealthy. At the same time, market demand for healthy, residue-free bulbs and flowers is growing, and society is increasingly calling for sustainable, clean cultivation.

The solution: a one-way cultivation system

With the introduction of a one-way system for the cultivation of Hyacinthus, growers use disease-free starting material for a single cycle, eliminating the reuse of bulbs. This approach significantly reduces the risk of pests and diseases, ensures a cleaner, high-quality product and meets the strict requirement of international markets. Additionally, it lowers the environmental impact by reducing soil strain and the need for chemical inputs. 

Tissue culture plays a crucial role in this system, enabling the large-scale production of clean material under sterile conditions therefore ensuring it to be free from any viruses, bacteria or other pathogens. Each initiated plant is individually tested, and only healthy ones are selected to be cultured into small new bulbs, which can be multiplied through repeated cuttings and re-culturing.

One system for all bulbous crops

This one-way system is not limited to hyacinthus and can be applied to other bulbous crops, such as tulip, Calla, Amaryllis and daffodil. As part of Vitale Teelt 2030, Iribov continues its research to help create a cleaner, and more sustainable future for bulb cultivation. 

More information

Do you want to learn more about the project Vitale Teelt 2030 or are you interested in the results of POP3 - Vitale Teelt?