In vitro seed germination of Indonesian native orchid Vanda hybrid
M Tuwo (a*) and A Indrianto (b)RIP

(a) Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, 90245
(b) Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta

Abstract

Vanda orchids are the most popular native Indonesian orchids and have high economic value. Explants used in this study were seeds from the fruit of crossing results of Vanda limbata Blume orchid which can be found in East Nusa Tenggara with Vanda tricolor Lindl. var. suavis on the slopes of Mount Merapi. Assembling the superior characteristics of various Indonesian local orchids is expected to produce superior, unique and distinctive orchid hybrids. Efforts to improve the quality of orchids can be done by genetic improvement through crossbreeding, whereas to increase the quantity can be done by propagation through in vitro culture. Explants used are seeds of Vanda hybrid fruit that are 6 months old sown on VW medium added with coconut water 150 ml/l. Morphological observations of Vanda hybrid seeds were carried out every week for 4 months. The results showed that growth phases of orchids are classified into five phases. First phase, embryos are 2 WAS old (seed coat or testa are rupture and their size increases)- second phase is 4 WAS old (greenish yellow)- third phase is 7 WAS old (green and the first protrusion appears in the apical section)- fourth phase is 9 WAS old (the first leaf forms and second protrusion appears)- fifth phase is 14 WAS old (has two leaves) and seventh phase is 16 WAS old (has two leaves and roots).

Keywords: Crossing- Mount Merapi- Vanda limbata Blume- Vanda tricolor Lindl. var. suavis

Topic: Emerging Technologies in Agricultural Production Systems