Abstract
Many orchids take several years to flower. We have been able to induce early flowering in the temperate orchid Cymbidium niveo-marginatum Mak in vitro. The combined treatment of cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine), restricted nitrogen supply with phosphorus enrichment, and root excision (pruning) induced transition of the Cymbidium shoot from a vegetative to a reproductive stage. Nearly 100% of the plants flowered within 90 days only when the combined treatment was applied. When root excision and/or 6-benzylaminopurine were omitted from the combined treatments, flower induction was significantly reduced. The auxin transport inhibitor, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid prevented flowering of Cymbidium in vitro, although auxin (α-naphthaleneacetic acid) itself did not induce flowering. Gibberellic acid markedly delayed flowering in C. niveo-marginatum even when the flower-promoting treatment was applied. Paclobutrazol, an anti-gibberellin agent, totally blocked the inductive effects of either cytokinin or pruning. These observations suggest that concerted actions of auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin, as well as nutrient concentration and putative promoting/suppressing agents, determine the timing of Cymbidium orchid transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 22 July 1998 / Revision revised: 23 November 1998 / Accepted: 2 December 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kostenyuk, I., Oh, B. & So, I. Induction of early flowering in Cymbidium niveo-marginatum Mak in vitro. Plant Cell Reports 19, 1–5 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050701
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050701