Horticuturae Webinar | Rethinking Woody Plant In Vitro Culture: Photoautotrophic Micropropagation and Emerging Biotechnologies
Horticuturae Webinar | Rethinking Woody Plant In Vitro Culture: Photoautotrophic Micropropagation and Emerging Biotechnologies
Part of the Horticulturae Webinar Series series
15 June 2026
Plant Biotechnology, Photosynthesis, Clonal Propagation, Woody Plant Micropropagation, Plant Tissue Culture, In Vitro Culture, Photoautotrophic Micropropagation, Advanced Propagation Systems, Sustainable Plant Production
Welcome from the Chair
7th Horticulturae Webinar
Rethinking Woody Plant In Vitro Culture: Photoautotrophic Micropropagation and Emerging Biotechnologies
Woody plant in vitro culture is a key tool for the rapid and reliable propagation and conservation of many economically and ecologically important species, some of them highly recalcitrant. In recent years, innovative approaches, such as photoautotrophic micropropagation, and emerging biotechnological techniques have opened new opportunities to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and scalability of plant production systems and conservation.
This webinar will explore recent advances in woody plant in vitro culture in bioreactors with forced ventilation, with a particular focus on photoautotrophic micropropagation. Experts will discuss how these approaches can enhance plant quality, reduce dependence on exogenous sugars, increase rooting and acclimatization and support more sustainable propagation practices.
The webinar is intended for researchers, students, and professionals interested in plant tissue culture, biotechnology, and innovative propagation technologies for woody species.
Date: 15 June 2026
Time: 3:00 pm CEST | 9:00 am EDT
Webinar ID: 851 0106 8557
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy
Luca Regni is an Associate Professor of Tree Crop Science at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy. His research focuses on woody plant physiology, sustainable orchard management, and innovative propagation techniques. He is involved in several national and international research projects aimed at improving the sustainability and productivity of Mediterranean tree crops through advanced agronomic and biotechnological approaches.
Invited Speakers
Plant Production Dept, Misión Biológica de Galicia, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain
Researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Biological Mission of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Her work focuses on the micropropagation of woody plants (chestnut, oak, cork oak, hazel, willow, fruit trees, and ornamentals). She specializes in bioreactors and their applications (photoautotrophy, acclimatization). Her interests include forest conservation and the preservation of local fruit varieties, the regeneration of degraded areas with native species, and outreach activities aimed at people of all ages and backgrounds.
Genetic Technologies Department, Thuenen Institute of Forest Genetics, Germany
As a researcher at the Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics in Germany, Tobias Bruegmann uses biotechnological tools to characterize gene functions in trees and to investigate how specific genes can contribute to climate change adaptation. He has been working with CRISPR/Cas since 2017 and has performed Germany’s first genome edits in trees. On the technological level, Tobias Bruegmann and his junior research group “Genetic Technologies” are investigating the development of novel CRISPR/Cas technologies in trees and their application to further tree species.
Registration
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Program
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CEST | Time in EDT |
|
Chair Introduction Prof. Luca Regni |
3:00 - 3:10 pm | 9:00 - 9:10 am |
|
Challenges in the application of photoautotrophic micropropagation to woody plants Dr. Nieves Vidal |
3:10 - 3:30 pm | 9:10 - 9:30 am |
|
New Genomic Techniques In Forest Tree Breeding: Current Status, Potential, and Limitations Dr. Tobias Bruegmann |
3:30 - 3:50 pm | 9:30 - 9:50 am |
| Q&A Session | 3:50 - 4:05 pm | 9:50 - 10:05 am |
|
Closing of Webinar Prof. Luca Regni |
4:05 - 4:10 pm | 10:05 - 10:10 am |
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
