The correlation coefficients amongst the different characters at phenotypic and genotypic levels revealed that the number of spikes per
year yield and per plot had a significantly positive association with plant height, number of pseudostems per plant, number of florets/spike,
and spike length, whereas a significant positive correlation was observed with days to first harvest. Spike length had a positive association
with plant height, leaf length and width, number of pseudostems, and number of florets/spike, whereas its negative correlation with days
to first harvest was observed. The number of florets per spike had a positive association with plant height, leaf length and width, and
number of pseudostems, while its negative correlation was found with days to first harvest. Days to first harvest had a negative correlation
with all the traits observed in the present study. Plant height showed a significant and positive association with leaf length and width, and
number of pseudostems per plant. Spike length had a very high positive direct effect and the number of pseudostems per plant had a high
positive direct effect on the number of spikes per plant per year. The present findings showed that selection should be made on the basis
of spike length and number of pseudostems per plant which may have the highest positive direct effect considering other traits while
making improvement in orchids for number of spikes per plant per year.
Endophytic fungi are integral components of orchid biology, contributing to nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and ecological adaptations.
In the present study, root-associated fungal endophytes were isolated and characterized from an epiphytic orchid, Luisia trichorhiza
(Hook.) Blume, collected from the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. Fungal isolates were cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)
medium and examined using morphological, anatomical, and molecular approaches. Distinct colony morphologies and micromorphological
traits indicated the presence of two taxonomically different fungal isolates. Molecular identification based on sequencing of the internal
transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that isolate LT-1 showed 99.58% sequence similarity with Neocosmospora rubicola, whereas
isolate LT-2 exhibited 94.76% similarity with Thelonectria blackeriella and therefore, the latter was conservatively identified up to the genus
level as Thelonectria sp. The corresponding ITS sequences were deposited in NCBI GenBank under accession numbers PX640217 (LT-
1) and PX735845 (LT-2). Phylogenetic analyses using the Maximum Likelihood method further supported the taxonomic placement of both
these isolates within their respective lineages. Anatomical investigations confirmed that fungal colonisation was restricted to the root
system, with the formation of characteristic intracellular pelotons within cortical cells, particularly in the root hair zone, while aerial tissues
remained uninfected. The coexistence of both common and relatively rare fungal taxa highlighted the complexity of the root-associated
mycobiome of L. trichorhiza. The present findings provide novel insights into orchid-fungal associations and establish a baseline for future
studies on orchid conservation, in vitro symbiotic germination, and biotechnological potential of endophytic fungi.
Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze is a threatened orchid known for its healing properties since ancient times. It is one of the eight important
herbs constituting the highly acclaimed group of therapeutic plants known as Astavarga. This monsoon blooming species, known as
Risabhak in ayurvedic literature, inhabits semi-shady forest floors and open or shrubby grasslands in temperate and alpine regions (1800-
4300 m). Several bioactive compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, etc.) extracted from its pseudobulbs, roots,
stems, and leaves possess anti-aging, anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant,
anti-ulcer, and anti-viral activities. It is, therefore, collected illegally and unscientifically for its medicinal properties, from the wild. The
present paper attempts to provide notes on its morphological characteristics, distribution pattern, and phytochemical constituents.
Rhynchostylis retusa, popularly known as the Foxtail Orchid, is an epiphytic orchid of significant ornamental and medicinal value. Due to
indiscriminate collection and habitat destruction, its natural populations are declining, necessitating efficient in vitro micropropagation
protocol for conservation and commercial production. The present study established a rapid and reproducible micropropagation protocol
using shoot meristem and leaf explants excised from in vitro raised plantlets. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with
various concentrations of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) was used. shoot meristem segments exhibited direct organogenesis, yielding
the highest number of multiple shoot buds (6.3±0.67 shoots/explant) on MS medium fortified with BAP (2.0 mgL-1) and NAA (1.0 mgL-1).
Conversely, leaf segments underwent somatic embryogenesis, producing the maximum percentage (77.33±1.96%) of Protocorm-like
bodies (PLBs) on the same hormonal regime. For shoot elongation, agar solidified MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.5 mgL-1) and NAA
(0.9 mgL-1) proved better than liquid nutrient media, achieving a shoot length of 2.84 ±0.04 cm. Rooting was best induced on half strength
MS medium supplemented with a combination of IBA (0.5 mgL-1) and NAA (0.5 mgL-1), resulting in an average of 5.17 roots per plantlet. The
plantlets were successfully acclimatized with a survival rate of 70% in a potting mixture of coconut coir, sawdust, and coal. This protocol
offers a viable pathway for the mass propagation and ex situ conservation of R. retusa.
The present study examines the seed and embryo morphometry of eight orchid taxa occurring across diverse ecological habitats of
Andhra Pradesh, India, so as to understand their adaptive strategies. Significant interspecific variations were observed in seed size and
shape, testa cell dimensions, and embryo volume, indicating ecological specialization amongst terrestrial and epiphytic orchids. Seed
length ranged from 0.0745 mm in Eulophia graminea to 0.6933 mm in Cymbidium aloifolium while seed width varied between 0.0184 mm
and 0.2042 mm. The length-width ratio showed marked diversity, with the highest value (4.82) in Rhynchostylis retusa and the lowest
(2.40) in Oberonia ensiformis reflecting habitat-driven seed shape plasticity. Seed volume varied over 100-fold (0.0000544-0.0062444
mm³), indicating differences in dispersal potential. The testa cell measurements also differed considerably, from 44.63 μm in Vanda
testacea to 243.62 μm in R. retusa. Embryo length ranged from 0.0653 to 0.2756 mm, with embryo volume spanning 0.000012-0.000300
mm³. Seed-to-embryo volume ratios revealed low embryo occupancy (1.11-20.81%), except in C. aloifolium, indicating high air-space
content in most taxa. Air space ranged from 9.53% to 95.20%, highlighting contrasting dispersal and germination strategies. Overall,
terrestrial species tended to possess smaller seeds with high air space enhancing wind dispersal, whereas epiphytic orchids such as
Acampe ochracea and R. retusa exhibited larger embryos and thicker testa cells, reflecting adaptation to humid canopy habitats. These
morphometric insights provide essential baseline data for conservation, propagation, and habitat-specific restoration of native orchids.
Chhattisgarh in India is known as the Herbal State of India, boasts a rich diversity of medicinal plants, including orchids. The Bilaspur
Division, with its lush, forested areas, harbours numerous native orchid species, many of which are utilized in traditional medicine. Despite
their therapeutic potential, scientific evaluation of their phytochemical properties remains limited. The present review consolidates current
knowledge on the phytochemical composition and medicinal potential of orchids in the region, highlighting the key research findings, and
identifying critical research gaps. The present communication attempts to highlight conservation needs and also the prospects for
pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Renanthera imschootiana is an endangered orchid species listed under CITES Appendix I, indicating that it is threatened with extinction
and highly restricted from trade; it is found only in the NorthEastern states of India. The present study deals with its in vitro seed
germination and seedling development. Seeds procured from green and undehisced capsules were cultured on Murashige and Skoog
(1962; MS) medium containing different concentrations and combinations of Kinetin and/or GA3 representesd as T1-T9. The results
revealed that the seed germination took only 48.47 days on MS+0.5 mgL-1 KN+ 1.0 mgL-1 GA3 medium (T8), while MS+1.0 mgL-1 +KN+1.0
mgL-1 (T9) promoted early protocorm formation (78.40 days), seedling development (96.60 days) and maximum plant height (6.90 cm). The
maximum number of shoots per plant (5.20) with the maximum number of leaves (6.33) was found in T7 (MS+1.0 mgL-1 KN+1.0 mgL-1 GA3).
However, the longest leaves (1.96 cm) were found in T8 treatment and the maximum leaf breadth (1.11 cm) was observed in T9 treatment.
The T9 treatment also favoured the maximum number of plantlets (4.93) with the thick (1.063 mm) and maximum roots; while T7 treatment
showed comparatively longer roots in the plantlets (4.67 mm). In vitro conservation of Red Vanda can be achieved through the use of
immature seeds from green capsules (pods) at a rapid rate in a short period of time on MS+KN (0.5-1.0 mgL-1) + GA3 (0.5-1.0 mgL-1). The
seedlings were later hardened in in pots with vermiculite potting mixture and then replanted containing potting mixture comprising broken
brick pieces and charcoal; these showed survivability rate of 90.10%.
Dr Krishna Chowlu, Scientist D at Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar has been working on orchid flora for more than a decade and is the life member of the Orchid Society of India. Dr Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, is Scientist F at BSI, Kolkata. Dr Jambey Tsering is a Scientist with Government of Arunachal Pradesh Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.