Shoot multiplication of <i>Paphiopedilum</i> orchid through <i>in vitro</i> cutting methods

Abstract

Paphiopedilum orchids are generally propagated through the division of axillary buds from mother plant, which limits commercial production due to its unproductive proliferation and time consuming. In this study, the effect of in vitro cutting methods and medium composition on efficient shoot multiplication of Paphiopedilum Hsinying Rubyweb was investigated. Among three different in vitro stem cutting methods used, vertical cutting was able to produce more new shoots than horizontal and cross cutting when cultured on Hyponex based medium. After 12 weeks of culture, plantlets regenerated from vertical cutting were able to produce new healthy and well rooted shoots higher than without cutting on the same medium. Moreover, the newly-formed shoots which were divided into single plantlets and subcultured onto half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without growth regulators could remain higher shoot multiplication than in other media. The micropropagation procedure developed in this study provides a simple means to in vitro propagate Paphiopedilum plantlets which are able to produce large numbers of uniform plantlets in a shorter time compared to the conventional propagation method.

Key words: Micropropagation, shoot multiplication, cutting, Paphiopedilum.