An inorganic fertilizer as a culture medium for Cattleya seedling culture

• Published in: Asia-Pacific journal of molecular biology and biotechnology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 229 - 231
• Main Authors: Pulma, C C, Anit, JA, Quilang, AB
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Agar; Cattleya; Charcoal; Color; Fertilizers; Hybrids; Leaves; Media (culture); Musa; Orchidaceae; Plant communities; Plantlets; Roots; Seed germination; Seedlings; Seeds; Sugar
• ISSN: 0128-7451

Cattleya presents a broad spectrum of colors and types making it one of the most in demand orchid group for making corsages and bouquets for special occasions. Orchid growers can breed more hybrids. This requires seed germination and seedling culture. This paper presents a method of utilizing Gaviota (19-19-19), an inorganic fertilizer as a culture medium for the culture of Cattleya seedlings. Seeds were germinated on the Knudson C medium and the newly germinated protocorms were transflasked to Gaviota fertilizer medium. Varying amounts of fertilizer (g'l times super(-1)) were utilized: 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0. Banana ('Saba' cultivar) 150 g times l super(-1), 30 g times l super(-1) table sugar, 1 g times l super(-1) activated charcoal, 5.0 g times l super(-1) agar and 150 ml times l super(-1) coconut water were added to the medium. Results showed that the seedlings generally grew well. Tall plantlets were produced on media containing 2.0 and 3.0 g times l super(-1) GaviotaTM. The number of leaves among treatments is almost similar. Leaf length increased gradually with an increase of fertilizer concentration, but decrease at 4.0 g times l super(-1). The highest number of roots are observed on 1.0 g times l super(-1) and is not statistically different from that on 3.0 g times l super(-1) Gaviota. Nevertheless, there was extensive root growth on 3.0 g times l super(-1). Increases of fresh weight were directly proportional to the increase of fertilizer concentration up to 4.0 g times l super(-1) when it started to decrease. The plantlets were acclimatized, planted in community pots and established after that. Therefore, Gaviota at 2-3 g times l super(-1) can serve as an inexpensive culture medium for Cattleya seedling growth.