In vitro Propagation of Acampe papillosa Lindl. (Orchidaceae) through Direct Somatic Embryogenesis using Leaf Explants

Amethod has been developed for the regeneration of the Orchid cultivar Acampe papillosa Lindl. The present study reports a research carried out with different concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins to activate in vitro propagation without an intermediate callus stage. Young leaf sections from in vitro plants were used as explants source. Protcorm like body was produced on these explants. The leaf explant was cultured on ½ inorganic MS Media containing 2 % sucrose which was solidified with 8 % agar and contained fractional combinations of auxin (NAA) and cytokinin (BAP) at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4 mgl-1 and 1, 2, 4, 8 mgl-1 respectively. The induction of PLBs was observed in the absence of any exogenous PGRs, but the addition of BAP with ½ inorganic MS improved the shoot growth significantly. Optimum growth was observed in the presence of 4 mgl-1 BAP, where 20 PLBs per explants was obtained. In vitro responding shoots were transferred to root induction medium consisting of ½ inorganic MS-1 suplimented with cytokinin. Rooting was best observed in medium supplemented with 0.8 mgl-1. The rooted plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to field conditions. The study of in vitro propagation of five month old undehisced green capsules of Acampe papillusa Lindl. through direct somatic embryogenesis using leaf explant was carried out in semisolid culture media. The experiment was conducted with plant growth regulators to propagate this orchid for commercial production due to its economic and aesthetic value.