Propagation and Establishment of Three Endangered Mexican Orchids from Protocorms

Abstract

Protocols for in vitro propagation from protocorms of Mormodes tuxtlensis Salazar, Cuitlauzina pendula La Llave & Lex., and Lycaste skinneri (Batem. Ex. Lind.) Lind., three endangered species distributed in Mexico and highly appreciated as ornamentals, were developed. The effect of two different culture media, Murashige and Skoog (MS) and modified Knudson (KCm), combined with varying concentrations of N6-benzyladenine (0, 2.2, 4.4, 8.9, and 13.3 μM) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (0, 0.5 and 2.7 μM), were investigated. Shoot formation and development of protocorm-like bodies were observed. For all three species, cultures in MS produced more shoots per explant than those in KCm, and those shoots were longer and more robust in appearance. Maximum number of shoots for M. tuxtlensis (1.5) and C. pendula (24.3) were obtained in media supplemented with 13.3 μM and 2.2 μM N6-benzyladenine, respectively. Conversely, for L. skinneri the greatest shoot production (16.4) was achieved in medium supplemented with 2.7 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid. Subculturing explants in MS basal medium allowed further development and rooting of the shoots as well as growth of protocorm-like bodies. The effect of different potting mixes on ex vitro survival plantlets was also investigated; pine bark:oak charcoal:pumice (3:1:1) allowed the highest survival rates in all three species.