World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

IN VITRO ASYMBIOTIC SEEDS GERMINATION OF 51 ENDEMIC, THREATENED ORCHID SPECIES OF MADAGASCAR

Ravoniarison Nivohanintsoa Elinorovololona* and Rahelivololona Raharitiana

ABSTRACT

The “Orchidaceae” is well represented in Madagascar with about 1500 species. Its extinction is related to the deforestation and to the massive and illegal collect. One technique of the conservation of endemic and threatened orchids of Madagascar is the in vitro asymbiotic seeds germination for their rapid reproduction. Besides, this method has the advantage of not damaging the mother plant. 51 species of orchids from Madagascar were the subject of this study. The seeds are from ripe capsules or unripe and dehiscent capsules or not. After surface sterilization of capsules, the seeds were sterilized in 0.5% of mancozeb for 50 min, then 10% of sodium hypochlorite for 15 min. The germination culture medium was composed of MS/2, supplemented with vitamins, 3% of sucrose and then solidified with 1% of agar. The results show that this culture medium is favorable for germination of 48 of the 51 species tested. The speed and capacity of germination varies with the species studied; respectively between 4 to 18 weeks and 15 to 92%. The best rate of germination (100%) was obtained with seeds from indehiscent ripe capsules. Non-germinated seeds were either from dehiscent capsules or green immature capsules. Thus, seeds from ripe indehiscent capsules are recommended for in vitro germination of Malagasy Orchids.

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