Micropropagation of <i>Phalaenopsis amabilis</i> var. ‘Manila’ by Leaves Obtained from <i>in Vitro</i> Culturing the Nodes of Flower Stalks

Orchids are one of the most popular plants in the world and among them the species of Phalaenopsis have the most sales on the global market. Because of its difficult propagation, micropropagation has been suggested recently. In the current study, the leaves obtained from in vitro culture of flower stalk nodes were used as explants and were cultured on MS medium with different concentrations of NAA, BA and TDZ. Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were produced and transferred to medium without growth regulators. Finally, the adaptation of plants was evaluated in a medium of cocopeat + coal (3:1 v/v) and another medium of cocopeat + charcoal + LECA (2:1:2 v/v). Results showed that the highest percentage of active samples was 100% which could regenerate the PLBs by being treated with 4 mg/l TDZ. The lowest active samples (60%) were those treated in the medium with 4 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA. The highest PLBs per explant (50.65) were obtained in the medium supplemented with 15 mg/l BAP + 3 mg/l NAA. Best acclimation (90%) of plants was obtained when medium of cocopeat + charcoal + LECA (2:1:2 v/v) was used. According to the results of the current experiment, the MS culture medium containing 15 mg/l BAP + 3 mg/l NAA was thereby considered as the best medium for Phalaenopsis micropropagation.