Asymbiotic germination and organogenesis in cymbidium sp.

Asymbiotic germination of immature embryos were achieved in some native Cymbidium species, viz. C. aloifolium SW, C. giganteum Wall Ex. Lindl and C. simonsianum K & P. Very young embryos did not germinate at all and germination rate was very low in mature embryos of all the three species. Maximum germination was obtained through culture of six month-old embryos in Vacin and Went (VW) medium enriched with vitamins. Germination was asynchronous and occurred within a wide span of 2–4 months. Growth of protocorms to seedlings was best achieved in enriched VW medium supplemented with NAA (0.1 μM) and Kinetin (2.0 μM). Seedling growth was comparatively faster in case of C. aloifolium than C. giganteum, and was least in C. simonsianum. One year old seedlings of C. aloifolium were successfully transplanted under natural condition. Shoots were induced to proliferate in rhizomes cultured in enriched VW medium containing 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1.0–2.0 μM). These results suggest that asymbiotic germination and subsequent rhizome culture can be applied to other rare Cymbidium species for increased multiplication rate.