In vitro germination, protocorm formation, and plantlet development of Orchis coriophora (Orchidaceae), a naturally growing orchid species in Turkey

Authors: ERSAN BEKTAŞ, MUSTAFA CÜCE, ATALAY SÖKMEN

Abstract: Some species belonging to the genus Orchis Tourn. ex L. (Orchidaceae) are of great economic importance as their tubers or corms are used to produce a hot beverage called salep. Nevertheless, these plants are not cultivated but are rather collected from nature, and due to careless collection many have already been listed as endangered plants. In order to assess the possibility of in vitro propagation, an orchid, Orchis coriophora L., was selected as a model plant, and the effects of basal media and plant growth regulators on in vitro seed germination, protocorm development, and plantlet formation were studied. Mature seeds were cultured in 4 different basal media, each supplemented with various concentrations and/or combinations of auxins and cytokinins/cytokinin-like substances. The highest germination rate (44.2%) was observed in Orchimax medium including activated charcoal plus 1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid. Protocorms developed plantlets in all the tested media. Orchimax medium including activated charcoal and supplemented with 0.25 mg/L 6-benzyladenine was found to be the most suitable medium for the formation of plantlets from protocorms.

Keywords: Orchis coriophora, protocorm, in vitro germination, Orchimax, mature seed

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