Hardening of the national flower of Colombia, the threatened Cattleya trianae (Orchidaceae), from in vitro culture with previous invigoration phase

Abstract

Abstract:Cattleya trianae is an endemic species from the tropical rainforest in the Colombian Andes. Its survival is currently threatened due to habitat loss and commercial overexploitation. This study evaluates ten substrates, some organic (pine bark, coconut fiber and wood shavings), some inert icopor (polystyrene foam), vegetable coal and their combinations, and the effects these have on morphometric and phenotypic traits in the hardening phase of 250 plants of C. trianae cultivated in vitro. Recorded data include percent survival, length of longest leaf, biomass (wet weight) and number of roots and leaves at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. After the hardening phase, the plants were taken to a greenhouse and later to the natural environment. Coconut fiber alone or mixed in equal parts with pine bark and coal was the most efficient substrate when percent survival (80±SE=0.3742), biomass, and leaf length were evaluated. Hardened plants displayed qualitative characteristics such as vigor, hardness and waxy texture, strength of green coloration in the leaves, and velamen formation. Under greenhouse conditions, plants grew better with filtered light, relative humidity bordering on 80 %, permanent aeration, misting with water, and an average temperature of 25±2 °C. Invigorated plants were firmly anchored on their host trees. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 681-691. Epub 2007 June, 29.

Germination, growth and morpho-anatomical development of Catasetum macrocarpum (Orchidaceae) in vitro

“…As the results presented herein refer to only 60 days after transfer to a shadehouse environment, it is possible that a decrease in survival percentage might occur after a longer period of time. Franco et al (2007) also verified that transfer of micropropagated plants of Cattleya trianae to greenhouse conditions resulted in only 47% survival of the plants. These authors state that greenhouses have substantially lower relative humidity, higher light intensities and non-sterile environments that are stressful to micropropagated plants when compared to in vitro conditions.…”

Revisión sistemática sobre tipos de sustratos utilizados en la propagación de orquídeas bajo invernadero

“…Para la aclimatación de orquídeas en condiciones de invernadero también pueden utilizarse materiales sintéticos como el poliestireno extruido o molido, la espuma sintáctica y la malla plástica (Moraes et al, 2002;Franco et al, 2007). El uso de estos materiales sintéticos considerados inertes no cumple con las propiedades químicas como es el aporte de nutrientes o físicas como la retención de humedad, ya que se usan únicamente como soporte para la planta.…”

Evaluación de la germinación de semillas de palma de iraca (<i>Carludovica palmata</i>) en condiciones <i>in vitro</i> y <i>ex vitro</i>

“…El mayor porcentaje de germinación ex vitro se registró en el sustrato turba comparado con los sustratos tierra y la mezcla tierra-turba, probablemente debido a que la turba es un material inerte con una capacidad alta de retención de agua, en tanto que los sustratos tierra y mezcla tierra-turba podrían ser más susceptibles a estar contaminados (Franco et al 2007, Gómez et al 2011, Azcón-Bieto y Talón 2013.…”