Ex-situ Conservation of Bulbophyllum leopardinum, A Threatened Medicinal Orchid of Nepal

Authors

  • Bir Bahadur Thapa Annapurna Research Center, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Krishna Chand Annapurna Research Center, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Laxmi Sen Thakuri Annapurna Research Center, Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Manju Kanu Baniya Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Bijaya Pant Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5614-6031

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnba.v5i1.63739

Keywords:

Bulbophyllum leopardinum, Micropropagation, PGRs, Seed germination, Shoot proliferation

Abstract

A successful micropropagation method was developed via the in-vitro seed germination and seedling growth of the epiphytic and/or lithophytic orchid Bulbophyllum leopardinum, a species having horticultural and therapeutic significance. To enhance seed germination, several quantities and combinations of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP), indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), and coconut water (CW) were added to 0.8% (w/v) agar-solidified MS medium. Half-strength MS medium has been experimented with alone and in combination with BAP, Kinetin (Kn), and GA3 to promote shoot development. In-vitro-developed healthy shoots were chosen to establish roots in a half-strength MS (HMS) medium supplemented with various auxins. The best and earliest seed germination with the greenest protocorms (96.3±0.5% in 7 weeks) was achieved on HMS medium fortified with 15% CW (H15C). Further tests for the shoot as well as root development were continued with an H15C medium. H15C with 1 mg/l BAP and 1.5 mg/l Kinetin was most effective for early in vitro development and differentiation into seedlings with the many long shoots (9.3±0.1 shoots and 2.4±0.1 cm per culture) within 12 weeks of sub-culture. The most suitable rooting hormone was 1 mg/l NAA (4.2±0.26 roots per culture). This medium also produced the longest roots (1.9±0.09 cm per culture). By successfully developing a protocol for the mass propagation of B. leopardinum, this research has enhanced both the cultivation and the commercialization potential of this species.

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Published

2024-03-14

How to Cite

Thapa, B. B., Chand, K., Thakuri, L. S., Baniya, M. K., & Pant, B. (2024). Ex-situ Conservation of Bulbophyllum leopardinum, A Threatened Medicinal Orchid of Nepal. Journal of Nepal Biotechnology Association, 5(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnba.v5i1.63739

Issue

Section

Research Articles