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Recent In Vitro Propagation Advances in Genus Paphiopedilum: Lady Slipper Orchids

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Commercial Scale Tissue Culture for Horticulture and Plantation Crops

Abstract

Paphiopedilum is a popular and horticulturally important orchid and is also known as lady’s slipper orchid. The genus is widely traded as cut flowers and potted plants due to its spectacularly beautiful flowers with a long shelf-life. Due to market demands, the orchids of this genus has been collected excessively leading to endangerment to its wild populations. Propagation of this orchid for commercialization through the conventional method has a slow growth rate, low seed germination rate and requires the association of mycorrhizal fungi for germination. Hence, in vitro propagation or micropropagation provides an alternative approach in meeting the needs for sustainable commercial demand and also in the conservation of wild slipper orchids. This chapter aims to discuss the latest research progress on in vitro propagation and acclimatization of Paphiopedilum orchids.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Meghalaya and University Grants Commission, India for supporting our research endeavours. We thank Dr. Shubhpriya Gupta, Research Centre on Plant Growth Development (RCPGD), South Africa, for assisting us in presenting this book chapter in an elaborate way.

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Diengdoh, R.V., Das, M.C., Nongsiang, A., Kumaria, S. (2022). Recent In Vitro Propagation Advances in Genus Paphiopedilum: Lady Slipper Orchids. In: Gupta, S., Chaturvedi, P. (eds) Commercial Scale Tissue Culture for Horticulture and Plantation Crops . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0055-6_14

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