• List of Articles Protocorms

      • Open Access Article

        1 - Encapsulation of Protocorm of Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. for Short-Term Storage and Germplasm Exchange
        Ganesan Mahendran
        The present study describes the encapsulation of protocorm of Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. from 60 days-old in seed cultures for short- term conservation and propagation. Various concentrations and combinations of gelling matrix (sodium alginate) and complexing agents (calc More
        The present study describes the encapsulation of protocorm of Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. from 60 days-old in seed cultures for short- term conservation and propagation. Various concentrations and combinations of gelling matrix (sodium alginate) and complexing agents (calcium chloride) were tested to prepare uniform beads. The ideal beads were ob- tained through a combination of 3% sodium alginate and 100 mM calcium chloride. Encapsulated protocorms exhibited the best re-growth and con- version frequency on MS medium supplemented with BA (4.42 μM). En- capsulated protocorms stored at 25°C were green and retained the viability with potential for conversion (52%) and germination even after 360 days. The encapsulated protocorms stored at 4°C remained viable up to 30 days beyond which the conversion rate decreased drastically. Well-de veloped plantlets were transplanted into plastic pots containing vermiculite and maintained for 60 days in the culture room for acclimatization. The 90% of the recovered plantlets were hardened off and established suc-cessfully in the soil. The present study could be useful for large scale propagation as well as short term storage of this commercial orchid Manuscript profile