Liquid overlays culture system improves shoot proliferation during micropropagation in many plant species including orchids. The present study reports the development of a protocol for the development of enhanced shoot regeneration from embryo derived protocorms, using casein hydrolysate (CH) as an organic additive, for the in vitro production in a threatened tropical epiphytic orchid species, Dendrobium ovatum. Organic additive (CH: 0.05%) mediated dual phase culture system (DPS) was performed using MS medium and yielded a maximum of 11.60±0.10 shoots per explant. Multiplication of protocorms via this method led to high frequency formation of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs). Plantlets thus developed may be used for large scale multiplication and conservation of D. ovatum. Replacing the CH with 5% banana homogenate in the culture medium improved plantlet development and 89% of these survived after transplantation, under greenhouse conditions.
https://doi.org/10.64873/JOSI.v38.i1-2.45-54