IN VITRO GROWTH OF Dendrobium phalaenopsis c.v. “MADAME POMPADOUR” CULTIVATED IN DIFFERENT MEDIA AND PH LEVELS

Abstract

Since orchids have a slow vegetal development and specific needs, their production costs are high and the development of alternative techniques for reproduction, such as in vitro seeding, are required. Current study assesses the in vitro growth of Dendrobium phalaenopsis, a.k.a. “Madame pompadour”, in culture medium ½ms and two media based on commercial fertilizers hyponex® (NPK 6.5-6-19) and Kristalon Orange® (NPK 6-12-36), at three pH levels (5.3, 5.8 and 6.3). Seeds were placed in four flasks with each medium and 20 seedlings were removed randomly after 180 days of culture from each flask to evaluate the following variables: plant height, length of the greatest root, length of the greatest leaf, number of roots, fresh and dry matter mass. Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey´s test at 5%. The most efficient culture medium in the growth of Dendrobium phalaenopsis seedlings was kristalon orange® with pH 6.3 with the highest medium rates for all variables analyzed.