| Q I am interested in the use of stem section culture as a means of propagating the
various jewel orchids. I recently received from an Australian lab several small flasks an Anoectochilus
species that had been produced by culturing small stem sections in vitro.
The supplier was kind enough to share his media with me, but mentioned that the major
problem was in the successful disinfecting of the rhizome sections to avoid the
introduction of contamination into the flasks. In researching past AOS magazines, I found
many potential solutions to this problem, including Clorox and other chlorides, hydrogen
peroxide, even several alcohols. Do you have any further experience with this and can you
recommend any further reading? A It is a given that the major problem with any sort of tissue culture, whether from the apical meristem or from axillary buds, is the prevention of the introduction of contaminants. This has been one of the major stumbling blocks in the production of paphiopedilum meristems: the difficulty in sterilizing the meristem, which had been in intimate contact with the growing medium, without killing it in the process. This would seem to be a situation analogous to yours. While I am not aware of any direct research on the subject of jewel-orchid propagation, an excellent reference on micropropagation is Micropropagation of Orchids by Joesph Arditti and Robert Ernst. The lab with which I have the most experience had the best success with either (or both) calcium hypochlorite or the use of an ultrasonic sterilizer as used for contact lens and denture cleaning. I would also consult with the supplier to see if they would share their decontamination methods as well as their medium. — Ned Nash, Director of Conservation, American Orchid Society. |
Reprinted, with permission, from "Orchids" - The Magazine of the American Orchid Society, August 2000.