Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1 Properties of ‘dust’ seeds
- 2 Seed development
- 3 Seed survival
- 4 Requirements for germination
- 5 Fungi
- 6 Germination processes
- 7 Underground organs
- 8 Orchid mycorrhiza
- 9 Abiotic factors in growth and development
- 10 Life history and phenology
- 11 Propagation
- 12 Effects of orchid mycorrhiza
- 13 Descriptions of genera
- Appendix A Nutrient substrates mentioned in the text
- Appendix B Names and synonyms
- References
- Index
11 - Propagation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1 Properties of ‘dust’ seeds
- 2 Seed development
- 3 Seed survival
- 4 Requirements for germination
- 5 Fungi
- 6 Germination processes
- 7 Underground organs
- 8 Orchid mycorrhiza
- 9 Abiotic factors in growth and development
- 10 Life history and phenology
- 11 Propagation
- 12 Effects of orchid mycorrhiza
- 13 Descriptions of genera
- Appendix A Nutrient substrates mentioned in the text
- Appendix B Names and synonyms
- References
- Index
Summary
Practical cultivation of terrestrial orchids beyond the seedling stage is thoroughly described elsewhere (Fast, 1980; Cribb & Bailes, 1989), but since these plants are not subjected to large-scale production the present culture methods rely largely on a relatively small amount of accumulated experience. With more effective in vitro techniques for seedling production more plants will be available for culture experiments in the future. It would be desirable to have a more objective foundation on which to construct rational production schemes.
In this brief account I will focus only on the establishment in soil of the earliest life stages and on such aspects of cultivation as soil requirements and phenology that have a relation to the mycotrophic lifeform of the plants.
Weaning of seedlings from in vitro culture
Transfer of seedlings to the soil is perhaps the most challenging step in the cultivation of terrestrial orchids (Fast, 1982). Before they are removed from the protected environment of the culture vessel the seedlings should be as large and vigorous as possible, but there is usually an economic incentive to reduce the length of time they are kept in vitro and the number of transfers undertaken.
When seedlings are transferred to a fresh medium in vitro the growth rate always increases, particularly when the seeds have been sown densely (Fast, 1982). Wide spacing allows the seedlings to develop more rapidly (Tsutsui & Tomita, 1989; Rasmussen et al., 1989). This advantage should be balanced against the greater number of culture vessels and amount of substrate necessary.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Terrestrial OrchidsFrom Seed to Mycotrophic Plant, pp. 219 - 226Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1995