Abstract
LED lighting can reduce production costs and improve the quality of micro-cuttings but has not yet been investigated for tissue culture propagation of American chestnut. This study examines the effects of three LED light treatments and one fluorescent control for in vitro shoot elongation and ex vitro rooting of micropropagated, American chestnut. Results showed that all three LED light treatments produced elongated shoots with total leaf surface area and average leaf surface areas equivalent to or greater than those of the fluorescent control. Ex vitro rooting trials showed that TLED treatments produced percent rooting survival and total root length equivalent to the fluorescent control. These findings support the use of broad-spectrum LEDs to replace traditional fluorescent lamps for in vitro elongation and ex vitro rooting of American chestnut and represents an important step in the application of LED lighting technology to the micropropagation of economically significant woody plant species.