An improved PVS2 cryopreservation technique for Ascocenda Wangsa Gold orchid using protocorm-like bodies

• Main Authors: Rajasegar, Arulvilee, Mansor, Asyraf, Poobathy, Ranjetta, Sivalingam, Elayabalan, Sinniah, Uma Rani, Subramaniam, Sreeramanan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey 2015
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/43724/1/An%20improved%20PVS2%20cryopreservation%20technique%20for%20Ascocenda%20.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/43724/; http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/issues/biy-15-39-2/biy-39-2-3-1405-7.pdf

Ascocenda Wangsa Gold is a new and fascinating orchid hybrid in the Malaysian flower industry. An efficient plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) cryopreservation technique was developed for protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Ascocenda Wangsa Gold orchid. Parameters assessed included the effect of PVS2 exposure periods, thawing duration, temperature, and culture conditions based on 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride absorbance readings and regrowth rates. A regrowth rate of 33.3% was obtained after 2 months when the PLBs were dehydrated in PVS2 for 30 min. The growth rate was improved to 47% when thawing was conducted at 45 °C for 85 s. The highest growth rate (53.3%) was obtained when the PLBs were subjected to a 7-day dark treatment before being transferred to a 16-h/8-h light/dark photoperiod. Histological analyses were conducted to study the morphology of cryopreserved and noncryopreserved PLBs of Ascocenda Wangsa Gold. The vitrification protocol developed in this study is a feasible and safe method for strengthening the germplasm conservation of this orchid for commercial purposes.