Foliar regeneration of the endangered Red Vanda, Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe (Orchidaceae)

Abstract

An in vitro method was developed to regenerate large numbers of phenotypically uniform plants from the basal parts of the leaves of flowering plants of Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe. Differentiation of up to 10 shoot buds free of callus and protocorm-like bodies occurred in 10–12 weeks from the base of a single leaf implanted in Mitra et al. (1976) medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 2 g l-1 peptone, 44.4 μM benzyladenine (BA) and 10.7 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subculture of the tissues in medium enriched with 10% coconut water and 35 g l-1 ripe banana pulp resulted in the production of highest average number of 40 shoots in 12 weeks. No difference in the regeneration potential was observed among the three young leaves while mature leaves did not respond. All the leaves of the regenerated shoots were easily recultured to increase shoot multiplication. Shoots readily formed roots on transfer to a medium containing 4.4 μM BA, 10.7 μM NAA and 1% activated charcoal. All regenerated plants examined were normal diploids with 2n=38. Foliar meristem culture appears to have great potential for ex situ conservation and propagation of this extremely endangered orchid.