Effect of Coconut Water and Peptone in Micropropagation of Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume Orchid

Abstract

Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume Orchid is one of the species in Phalaenopsis genus and are well-known as exotic and beautiful white flowers. Besides that, there is little continuity in the mass propagation of Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) that produce many standardized seedlings in a relatively short period to satisfy market demand. This study was focusing on evaluating the effect of natural additives as plant growth regulators (PGR). PGR was used as nutritional constituents in the media culture to enhance the growth of explants. The additives used in this study were coconut water and peptone at different concentration, which were 5 %, 7.5 %, and 10 % of coconut water (CW) and 1 % and 2 % of peptone that supplemented in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. These additives were added to examine the height of plantlets, number of leaves, and number of roots after 2 months cultured. Result showed that addition of 5% CW and 2 % peptone in treatment 10 recorded the highest height of plantlet which was 1.14±0.060 cm. The highest number of leaves with 2.18±0.507 was observed in treatment 11 (7.5 % of CW and 2 % of peptone) and number of roots with 1.928±0.286 was from treatment 9 (0% of CW and 2% of peptone). Coconut water has been proved can stimulate and enhance growth and proliferation of Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) plus the existence of peptone may help in development and increase the percentage of survival rate of Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) due to the content of peptone which are carbon and nitrogen sources. The observation from all the treatments produces healthy explants as the natural additive can substitute the use of synthetic PGR.