TISSUE CULTURE OF ORCHIDS I. METHODS FOR LEAF TIPS
Abstract
Summary: Leaf‐tips of Epidendrum and Laeliocattleya (Orchidaceae) have been cultured in vitro. Epidendrum seedling leaf‐tips form calli on Murashige‐Skoog medium (MS) or after being transferred to Knudson C agar following prior growth on MS. Plantlets also develop from tips of young leaves of mature Laeliocattleya plants cultured in Heller's medium or in a solution specifically devised for orchid shoot‐tip cultures. In Heller's medium plantlet development is preceded by callus formation whereas in the shoot‐tip medium protocorm‐like bodies are formed first. These tissues when subcultured from Heller's medium or the shoot‐tip solution to Knudson C agar also produce plantlets which resemble orchid seedlings. The results are discussed in relation to the components of each medium, the requirements of germinating orchid seeds and protocorms, and the difficulties encountered in attempts to culture tissues of mono‐cotyledonous plants.
Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.