Micropropagation of orchids: A review on the potential of different explants

Introduction. 1. Male Gametogenesis Development and Structure of Sperm D. Southworth, S.C. Russell. 2. Sperm and Generative Cell Isolation and Manipulation D. Southworth. 3. Pollen Germination and Pollen Tube Growth Tip Growth Mechanism in Sexual Plant Reproduction A. Moscatelli, M. Cresti. 4. Female Gametogenesis Ontogenesis of the Embryo Sac and Female Gametes S.D. Russell. 5. Embryo Sac Isolation and Manipulation D.D. Cass, J.D. Laurie. 6. In Vivo Fertilization T.B. Batygina, V.E. Vasilyeva. 7. In Vitro Fertilization E. Kranz. 8. Sexual Incompatibility F. Cruz-Garcia, B.A. MacClure. 9. Zygotic Embryogenesis Structural Aspects R. Czapik, R. Izmailow. 10. Zygotic Embryogenesis Hormonal Control of Embryo Development B. Fischer-Iglesias, G. Neuhaus. 11. Zygotic Embryogenesis: Developmental Genetics The Formation of an Embryo from a Fertilized Egg K. Schrick, T. Laux. 12. Somatic Embryogenesis T.A. Thorpe, C. Stasolla. 13. Synthetic Seeds of Asparagus officinalis L. K. Mamiya, et al. 14. Endosperm Development P.W. Becraft, et al. 15. Seed Maturation, Germination, and Dormancy A.B. Downie. 16. Gametophytic Apomixis A Successful Mutation of the Female Gametogenesis Y. Savidan. 17. Parthenocarpy State of the Art A. Spena, G.L. Rotino. 18. Androgenesis in Brassica A Model System to Study the Initiation of Plant Embryogenesis J.B.M. Custers, et al. 19. Androgenesis in Cereals S.K. Datta. 20. In Vitro Gynogenesis S.S. Bhojwani, T.D. Thomas. 21. Inheritance of Cytoplasmic Traits -- Embryological Perspectives T. Kuroiwa, et al. Subject Index.

Current trends in the embryology of angiosperms.

This review provides an informative and broad overview of orchid biotechnology, addressing several important aspects such as molecular systematics, modern breeding, in vitro morphogenesis, protoplast culture, flowering control, flower color, somaclonal variation, orchid mycorrhiza, pathogen resistance, virus diagnosis and production of virus-free plants, functional genomics, genetic transformation, conservation biotechnology and pharmaceutical biotechnology. This resource will provide valuable insight to researchers who are involved in orchid biology and floriculture, using biotechnology to advance research objectives. Producing an improved orchid through biotechnology for industrial purposes or to serve as a model plant for pure and applied sciences is well within reach and many of the current techniques and systems are already employed at the commercial production level.

The Application of Biotechnology to Orchids

Segments taken from young leaves of an orchid (Oncidium Gower Ramsey) produced clusters of somatic embryos directly from epidermal and mesophyll cells of leaf tips and wound surfaces without an intervening callus within 1 month when cultured on a GelriteTM-gelled 1/2-MS basal medium supplemented with a low dosage (0.3–1 mg/l) of thidiazuron. Subculturing of these embryo clusters produced more embryos and subsequent plantlet formation on the same medium. The high-frequency embryogenesis of these leaf cells in this orchid is strong evidence of their totipotency, and further modification of the protocol for plant formation could be useful for the mass propagation and transformation of selected elite lines.

Direct somatic embryogenesis on leaf explants of Oncidium Gower Ramsey and subsequent plant regeneration.

Induction of callus and plant regeneration from shoot-tip explants of Dendrobium fimbriatum Lindl. var. oculatum Hk. f.

Totipotent calli of Cymbidium ensifolium var. misericors, a locally grown orchid of high commercial value, were induced from sections of pseudobulbs, rhizomes and roots of seed-derived plantlets on 1/2-strength Murashige and Skoog medium plus 10 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.1 mg/l thiadiazuron. The calli could be maintained by subculturing in the same medium. The calli could be induced to develop further along one of three distinct morphogeneic routes: (1) production of rhizomes, (2) production of shoot buds, or (3) development of granular embryoids. Efficient mass propagation was possible via rhizome proliferation and embryoid formation.

C. Chang

Papers

Plant regeneration from callus culture of Cymbidium ensifolium var. misericors.