Articles
IN VITRO PROPAGATION AND RECOVERY OF A HABITAT OF HABENARIA RADIATA (ORCHIDACEAE)
Article number
560_96
Pages
481 – 484
Language
English
Abstract
Habenaria radiata is a terrestrial orchid broadly distributed in Japan.
However, recently this orchid has been threatened with extinction by over-exploitation and degradation of their habitats.
It is listed as vulnerable threatened species (VU) formulated by the Committee of Wildlife Conservation in Japan (1989). We have tried to recover a habitat of Habenaria radiata in Toyama Prefecture, where the population of the orchid was severely decreased.
We propagated the orchid by the axenic seed-germination in order to maintain the genetic diversity.
Fruits of Habenaria radiata were harvested in the habitat and sterilized seeds were cultured on the Hyponex medium for two months.
About 12.6 % of seeds produced protocorms, which differentiated shoots and roots and grew up young plants on the modified LS medium two months after transplantation.
When plantlets from protocorms were cultured on the tuber-forming medium for three months, about 90 % of plants produced tubers.
The tubers were planted in the pot containing vermiculite and perlite.
After three months, 60 % of the plants from tubers as large as 150 mg f.w. were flowering.
It took total ten months to obtain flowering orchids from the beginning of the axenic seed-germination.
On the other hand, the in vitro propagated tubers and plantlets from tubers were transplanted in the habitat.
The plants flowered and the population of the orchid has been increasing in the habitat.
However, recently this orchid has been threatened with extinction by over-exploitation and degradation of their habitats.
It is listed as vulnerable threatened species (VU) formulated by the Committee of Wildlife Conservation in Japan (1989). We have tried to recover a habitat of Habenaria radiata in Toyama Prefecture, where the population of the orchid was severely decreased.
We propagated the orchid by the axenic seed-germination in order to maintain the genetic diversity.
Fruits of Habenaria radiata were harvested in the habitat and sterilized seeds were cultured on the Hyponex medium for two months.
About 12.6 % of seeds produced protocorms, which differentiated shoots and roots and grew up young plants on the modified LS medium two months after transplantation.
When plantlets from protocorms were cultured on the tuber-forming medium for three months, about 90 % of plants produced tubers.
The tubers were planted in the pot containing vermiculite and perlite.
After three months, 60 % of the plants from tubers as large as 150 mg f.w. were flowering.
It took total ten months to obtain flowering orchids from the beginning of the axenic seed-germination.
On the other hand, the in vitro propagated tubers and plantlets from tubers were transplanted in the habitat.
The plants flowered and the population of the orchid has been increasing in the habitat.
Authors
T. Shimada, M. Otani, M. Morii
Keywords
axenic seed-germination, endangered orchid, conservation, Sagi-sou, tubers
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