An efficient nutrient medium for asymbiotic seed germination and in vitro plant generation of Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G. Don

Abstract

Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G. Don is an epiphytically grown orchid well­known for its excellent floral value and therapeutic qualities. The present investigation deals with a study of asymbiotic seed germination and large­scale in vitro plant generation of Vanda tessellata by usi ng three di fferent basal medi a (MS, KC, and VW) and two supplements, charcoal and banana. Of these three media used for seed germination, MS (Murashige and Skoog) gave the best response, followed by KC (Knudson C) and VW (Vacin and Went). MS medium took less time to germinate seeds and maximum protocorm formation was also observed. MS medium with banana powder (15,000 mg/l) showed the best result for developing seedlings from protocorm and maximum growth of leaves and roots of the seedlings. Propagation through secondary protocorm formation was highest in MS media with charcoal (1000 mg/g). In vitro­grown plants were successfully acclimatized with an 89.4% survival rate. According to a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, the in vitro generated plants were clone copies of their parent plant and did not exhibit variations. These findings validated the most trustworthy techniques, which can also be applied for to large­scale medicinal Vanda tessellata plant production at the commercial level.