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A novel dual-phase culture medium promotes germination and seedling establishment from immature embryos in South African Disa (Orchidaceae) species

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Abstract

In vitro germination as a conservation aid demands propagation systems that yield increasingly larger numbers of plants as rapidly as possible. However, summer-rainfall Disa species are germinated infrequently under asymbiotic conditions. Attempts to bypass impermeable testae in these species resulted in the formulation of a dual-phase protocol—with the specific aim of increasing water availability to the embryo. Dual-phase cultures were initiated using seed from green capsules and comprised a solid, charcoal-rich medium overlaid with a reduced strength, liquid medium fraction of the same type. The former served to negate the influence of leached phenols and allowed protocorms to establish polarity, whilst the latter increased water availability. The dual-phase protocol germinated nine Disa species (including D. cooperi, D. nervosa, D. pulchra and D. woodi); representing five first time reports (D. brevicornis, D. crassicornis, D. patula, D. stachyoides and D. versicolor). Furthermore, germination was comparatively rapid and percentages for most species approached their estimated germination potential (∼viability). Congruency here suggests that dual-phase conditions are amenable to germinating a number of seeds that reflects the maximum number of viable embryos—critical for conservation efforts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Dave I. Thompson & Johannes Van Staden

  2. School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Trevor J. Edwards

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  1. Dave I. Thompson
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  2. Trevor J. Edwards
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  3. Johannes Van Staden
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Thompson, D.I., Edwards, T.J. & Van Staden, J. A novel dual-phase culture medium promotes germination and seedling establishment from immature embryos in South African Disa (Orchidaceae) species. Plant Growth Regul 53, 163–171 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-007-9215-x

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