In vitro propagation of the endangered orchid Laelia speciosa

Laelia speciosa is an endangered epiphytic orchid. The effects of various media components on germination of L. speciosa were evaluated. Pods were collected at 4, 7, and 9 months following hand-pollination, and seeds were germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with 30 g l(-1) sucrose and five concentrations (0.0, 0.04, 0.22, 0.44, and 2.22 mu M) of benzyladenine (BA) under light and dark conditions. Gibberellic acid (GA(3); 0.0, 0.29, 1.44, 2.89, 14. 43 and 28.87 mu M) with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.0, 0.54, 1.34, 2.69, and 5.37 mu M) were evaluated for in vitro subcultivation. MS medium with 30 g l(-1) sucrose was effective for germination. The effects of BA and light on germination of L. speciosa seeds differed with pod maturity. All mature seeds germinated using 0.44 mu M BA and light. The highest frequency of germinated seedlings (60%) was obtained using mature seeds grown on MS medium without BA and under light conditions. For subculture, MS with 30 g l(-1) sucrose, 2.69 mu M NAA, and 0.29 mu M GA(3) was effective. Plantlets of 5 cm in length were transplanted to the greenhouse, and a 77.5% of survival rate was obtained. A successful protocol for micropropagation by seed germination will contribute to the development of a sustainable management program for L. speciosa.