Effects of Chitosan and Lotus Extracts as Growth Promoter in Dendrobium Orchid

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of chitosan and lotus extracts to stimulate growth of orchid plantlets in greenhouse conditions. Chitosan was extracted from prawn shells (Penaeus monodon) with 90% deacetylation (DD) and 85- 89% purity. The lotus extracts from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera ‘Roseum Plenum’ were used as the sources of antimicrobial agents. The Dendrobium orchid ‘Sureepeach’ plantlets were treated with 10,30,50 and 100 mg L^-1 chitosan and 1,3 and 5 g L^-1 lotus extracts at 7 day intervals. The combination of 100 mg L^-1chitosan and 5 g L^-1 lotus extracts gave the maximum number of leaves and shoots of the plantlets after 10 weeks of transplanting.