Improvement of the Survival Rate of In Vitro Propagated Dendrobium intermediate CV ‘White’ during Acclimatization

Abstract

Dendrobium intermediate cv 'White', an ornamental plant with exquisite flowers which is produced through In vitro propagation, undergoes hyperhydricity in vitro conditions. As a result, they project a low survival rate during acclimatization which is a bottleneck for its success in micropropagation. This research aimed at overcoming the low survival rate during acclimatization of Dendrobium intermediate cv ‘White’ by improving the medium used in the pre- transplant stage. In vitro seedlings were cultured on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium, without any growth regulators, with 3 sugar concentrations (3, 4 and 5% (w/v) at the pre-transplant stage for six weeks before being acclimatized in the protected house. After four weeks of acclimatization, the highest survival rate (100%), moderate survival rate (66.7 %) and lowest survival rate (12.5%) were observed in plants grown in vitro in MS medium fortified with 5, 4 and 3% (w/v) sugar concentrations respectively at the pre-transplant stage. Thus, increased sugar levels (5%, w/v) in the pre-transplant stage, can be recommended to achieve a 100% survival rate of Dendrobium intermediate cv ‘White’ during acclimatization. This is a promising solution to facilitate continuous mass production of Dendrobium intermediate cv ‘White’.