Shortening the Period from Pollination to Getting Seedlings by Ovule or Ovary Culture in Doritis pulcherrima (Orchidaceae)

Abstract

This study represents the first case of getting orchid seedlings directly from ovules in vitro culture of ovaries or ovules excised before fertilization. By the usual in vitro culture of mature seeds, at least a period of 240 days was required from pollination to obtaining seedlings of D. pulcherrima. By the new method with pollinated but not fertilized ovaries or ovules, the period could be shortened by about 150 days. Moreover, the seedlings obtained proved to be diploid, suggesting the occurrence of fertilization during the culturing. In ovule culture, seedlings were obtained only when the basal medium was supplemented with sucrose or coconut water which seemed to supply sucrose in some form of carbohydrates. While in ovary culture, they were obtained without the addition of sucrose, perhaps because sucrose was supplied from the ovary wall.