Effect of different basal media and PGRs on in vitro seed germination and seedling development of medicinally important orchid Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw.

Abstract

A comparative study on in vitro seed germination and seedling development of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw., an epiphytic medicinal orchid, was carried out on three different conditions of KC, MS, PM & VW media viz. half strength, full strength and medium supplemented with 0.5mg/l BAP and 0.5mg/l NAA. Varied response was found in terms of seed germination, protocorm like bodies formation and seedling development was observed on four different basal media. Medium supplemented with hormones favored optimum condition for the germination (approx. 95%) of seeds followed by full strength and half strength on KC, MS, PM and VW media. MS medium supplemented with 0.5mg/l BAP and 0.5mg/l NAA showed comparatively better response within 6 weeks of culture than other conditions of MS medium as well as KC, PM and VW media. Based upon the results, it was found that MS medium was more effective than KC, PM and VW media for germination, PLBs and plantlet formation. The present study has provided useful information that the high concentration of nutrient compounds and vitamins supplemented with PGRs are required for earlier in vitro germination, plantlet developed from immature seeds of C. aloifolium. It could be an important protocol to conserve this medicinally important orchid species by establishing an efficient in vitro regeneration system using immature seed culture.