An Effective Nutrient Media for Asymbiotic Seed Germination and In Vitro Seedling Development of Phalaenopsis ‘Bahia Blanca’

Our study was to develop a rapid and successful method for promoting asymbiotic seed germination and growth and development of protocorm like bodies (PLBs) and subsequent plantlets of Phalaenopsis orchid. Four basal media i.e. Murashige and Skoog (MS), half strength MS (½MS), Knudson C (KC) and, Vacin and Went (VW) supplemented with coconut water and peptone were examined for their effectiveness in large-scale multiplication by asymbiotic seed germination. Seed germination, leaf number, root number, root length, seedling length and fresh and dry weight were scored. Well-rooted plantlets 4-cm in height were transferred to a greenhouse in trays containing expanded clay, charcoal, cocopeat and perlite (4:2:1:1) or sphagnum moss. The seed germination frequency and seedling development was found significantly higher in organic growth supplement-enriched MS and ½MS media. The results indicated that the highest seed germination (94 %) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 100 mg/L coconut water or 1 g/L peptone and ½MS containing 1 or 2 g/L peptone. However, the longest seedling was found in MS or ½MS media supplemented with 100 mg/L coconut water or MS containing 1 g/L peptone. Ninety-seven percent of plantlets survived after 1 month in mixture media expanded clay: charcoal: cocopeat: perlit.