<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">In vitro </i>regenerative competence of foliar explants of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Cymbidium aloifolium </i>(L.) Sw. and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C. iridioides</i> D. Don: Two horticultural important orchids

Abstract

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">In vitro </i>regenerative potentials of foliar explants of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cymbidium aloifolium </i>(L.) Sw. and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C. iridioides</i> D. Don. were assessed. About 52% explants of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C. aloifolium</i> invoked meristematic loci, followed by shoot buds formation after 65 d of culture on MS medium containing sucrose (3% w/v), α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 6 µM) and benzyl adenine (BA; 9 µM). While 60% of leaf explants of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">C. iridioides</i> exhibited a similar response on the above basal medium enriched with NAA (9 µM) and BA (3 µM). The better morphogenic response was recorded with explants cultured in upright orientation. The shoot buds developed from the foliar explants of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C. aloifolium</i> differentiated into rooted plantlets (12 plantlets/explant) on MS medium containing sucrose (3%) and BA (3 µM); while in case of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> C. iridioides</i>, about 20 plantlets/explant were developed after 3-4 wk of culture on MS medium fortified with sucrose (3%), casein hydrolysate (100 mg L^-1), coconut water (15%) and NAA (3 µM)+BA (6 µM). The well rooted plantlets of both the species were hardened for 4-6 wk on 1/10^th MS salt solution containing sucrose (1%) but free from plant growth regulators. In the hardening medium, charcoal pieces, brick pieces and chopped mosses (at 1:1:1 ratio) were incorporated as supporting material. After hardening, the regenerated plantlets of both the species were transferred to the community potting mix with 75-80% survivors after two months of transfer under polyhouse condition.