Micropropagation of Cattleya: Improved in vitro rooting and acclimatization

The present study reports optimization of in vitro rooting of Cattleya shoots with the aim to increase survival rate during acclimatization. Shoots (2.0–2.5 cm) which were regenerated in vitro were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and the effect of various parameters such as type and concentration of auxin [0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg·L −1 indole butyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)], medium strength (full and half strength), sucrose concentration (0, 15 and 30 g·L −1 ) and light intensity [photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 30, 60, 90 μmol·m −2 ·s −1 ] were tested. Half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.4 mg·L −1 IBA, 3% sucrose and 60 μmol·m −2 ·s −1 PPFD were found as suitable conditions for optimal induction of roots. In vitro regenerated Cattleya plantlets were successfully transferred to potting medium containing bark:perlite:peatmoss (1:1:1) and perlite:peatmoss (1:1), and 98.3 and 80.7% were survived respectively.