Articles
Asymbiotic propagation of Italian orchids
Article number
1262_24
Pages
179 – 186
Language
English
Abstract
In the framework of the project on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (RGV/FAO), a program for the collection and propagation of spontaneous orchids from the Italian territory has been implemented, mainly oriented towards species with ornamental potential.
Distributional and phenological data of species and hybrids of the Orchidaceae have been collected in the national territory in order to determine the optimum maturation stage of the seed capsules for in vitro germination, in accordance with current regulations of Italian law.
Experimental protocols of in vitro asymbiotic propagation have been evaluated, including sterilization, germination, in vitro cultivation on various substrate types and cold greenhouse acclimatization.
Between 2014 and 2016, capsules were harvested in the natural habitats of species and hybrids belonging to 11 different botanical genera (out of the 29 reported in Italy): Anacamptis, Barlia, Cephalanthera, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Gymnadenia, Himantoglossum, Neotinea, Ophrys, Orchis and Serapias. Twenty-eight taxa of the 44 sowed germinated after 11 and up to 45 weeks from sowing, depending on the taxon, while the development of protocorms, with leaves and root system and complete with rhizomes and rhizoids, required an average of one year.
In November 2015 and 2016, after about 18-20 months from sowing, greenhouse acclimatization protocols for plantlets were developed for Anacamptis morio, Barlia robertiana, Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. fuchsii, Gymnadenia conopsea, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. maritima, Serapias neglecta, Serapias cordigera and Serapias × meridionalis. Further research is currently ongoing to optimize the germination and acclimatization of all taxa, including the use of mycorrhizal fungi.
Distributional and phenological data of species and hybrids of the Orchidaceae have been collected in the national territory in order to determine the optimum maturation stage of the seed capsules for in vitro germination, in accordance with current regulations of Italian law.
Experimental protocols of in vitro asymbiotic propagation have been evaluated, including sterilization, germination, in vitro cultivation on various substrate types and cold greenhouse acclimatization.
Between 2014 and 2016, capsules were harvested in the natural habitats of species and hybrids belonging to 11 different botanical genera (out of the 29 reported in Italy): Anacamptis, Barlia, Cephalanthera, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Gymnadenia, Himantoglossum, Neotinea, Ophrys, Orchis and Serapias. Twenty-eight taxa of the 44 sowed germinated after 11 and up to 45 weeks from sowing, depending on the taxon, while the development of protocorms, with leaves and root system and complete with rhizomes and rhizoids, required an average of one year.
In November 2015 and 2016, after about 18-20 months from sowing, greenhouse acclimatization protocols for plantlets were developed for Anacamptis morio, Barlia robertiana, Dactylorhiza maculata subsp. fuchsii, Gymnadenia conopsea, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. maritima, Serapias neglecta, Serapias cordigera and Serapias × meridionalis. Further research is currently ongoing to optimize the germination and acclimatization of all taxa, including the use of mycorrhizal fungi.
Publication
Authors
M. Antonetti, G. Burchi, D. Prisa, J. Calevo, A. Giovannini
Keywords
Orchidaceae, in vitro culture, acclimatization, sowing, ex situ conservation
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