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%.