Articles
Effect of seed maturity on germination and proliferation of Cypripedium macranthos Sw. during asymbiotic seed culture
Article number
1262_8
Pages
53 – 62
Language
English
Abstract
The genus Cypripedium, known as the lady’s slipper orchid, has great marketability as a potted and garden plant with high ornamental value.
However, this species is becoming endangered and extinct because of habitat destruction and illegal collection.
Therefore, an optimised artificial propagation system is required for the conservation and commercial availability of this species.
For the establishment of in vitro proliferation of endangered C. macranthos Sw., which is native to Korea, the effect of seed maturity on germination and protocorm development was investigated via asymbiotic seed culture.
When premature seeds collected 60 and 75 days after cross-pollination (DAP) were sown on the germination medium, the highest germination rate (62.3-64.0%) and protocorm formation rate (70.5-76.2%) were obtained compared to the immature (45 DAP) and mature (90 DAP) seeds.
Abscisic acid increased approximately four to six times and the water content of seeds remarkably decreased at the mature stage (90 DAP). When seeds harvested at 75 DAP were incubated, their embryos were swollen after 2 months of culture.
These were transformed into young protocorms and the formation of meristematic domes (promeristems) was observed at the anterior pole after 3 months.
The apical shoot and root meristems were newly developed after 4 months, and the leaf primordium was differentiated around a shoot apical meristem after 5 months.
Therefore, the seed collection time relative to seed maturity could significantly affect in vitro germination and protocorm development in C. macranthos.
However, this species is becoming endangered and extinct because of habitat destruction and illegal collection.
Therefore, an optimised artificial propagation system is required for the conservation and commercial availability of this species.
For the establishment of in vitro proliferation of endangered C. macranthos Sw., which is native to Korea, the effect of seed maturity on germination and protocorm development was investigated via asymbiotic seed culture.
When premature seeds collected 60 and 75 days after cross-pollination (DAP) were sown on the germination medium, the highest germination rate (62.3-64.0%) and protocorm formation rate (70.5-76.2%) were obtained compared to the immature (45 DAP) and mature (90 DAP) seeds.
Abscisic acid increased approximately four to six times and the water content of seeds remarkably decreased at the mature stage (90 DAP). When seeds harvested at 75 DAP were incubated, their embryos were swollen after 2 months of culture.
These were transformed into young protocorms and the formation of meristematic domes (promeristems) was observed at the anterior pole after 3 months.
The apical shoot and root meristems were newly developed after 4 months, and the leaf primordium was differentiated around a shoot apical meristem after 5 months.
Therefore, the seed collection time relative to seed maturity could significantly affect in vitro germination and protocorm development in C. macranthos.
Publication
Authors
Y.S. Huh, J.K. Lee, K.Y. Paek, S.Y. Park, S.W. Son, G.U. Suh
Keywords
lady’s slipper orchid, seed harvesting, in vitro propagation, protocorm, seedling
Online Articles (32)