Sirivarin Thibul and Arak Jantasilp

pp. 277 - 284

Abstract

Seeds of Vandopsis gigantea (Lindl.) Pfitz. germinated with highest percentage of 60.62±7.24% on modified VW (Vacin and Went, 1949) medium supplemented with coconut water under light condition. Light not only caused seed germination percentage significantly higher than in darkness (p<0.01), it also induced normal protocorm development to a more advanced stage than those in dark condition. Protocorms after 14-16 weeks of culture in the dark formed abnormal elongated shape and some eventually terminated their
growth and finally became brown. The addition of coconut water to basal medium also induced higher percentage of seed germination than that without coconut water (p<0.05). Although, protocorm development
in both types of media was comparatively normal, coconut water seemed to promote development slightly more progressive than without coconut water. After 14-16 weeks of culture, most protocorms with coconut water formed 1-2 small expanding leaves while those without coconut water developed only the acute end of shoot initial. Lastly, seed germination in liquid or solid medium was not significantly different, however, protocorms in the latter developed slightly more quickly.