CSA-Journal-2016-04

The large-flowered standard cymbidium
hybrids are worldwide propagated from
seed and from tissue culture by the millions
every year (Fig. 1). Of the 11 sections
(DU PUY & CRIBB, 2007) in the genus
Cymbidium SW., species of section Cyperorchis
(BLUME) P.F. HUNT, form the main
breeding stock (e.g. C. lowianum (RCHB.F.)
RCHB. F., 1879, C. insigne ROLFE, 1904,
and C. eburneum LINDLEY, 1847) along
with species of section Floribundum SETH
& CRIBB (e.g. C. floribundum LINDLEY,
1833, syn. C. pumilum ROLFE, 1907). Out
of this stock an impressive number of horticultural
hybrids has been produced during
the last 100 years or so. However, even
though the so-called oriental cymbidiums,
i. e. species of the section Jensoa (RAF.)
SCHLECHTER, have been cultivated in
the East for more than 2000 years, they
have never contributed much to the breeding
programs in the West. The only exception
is Cymbidium ensifolium (L.) SW. 1799,
which is a parent of important miniature
cymbidiums like Cym. Peter Pan (Cym.
ensifolium x Miretta), created at Dos Pueblos
Orchid Company, Goleta, in 1957, and
Cym. Golden Elf (Cym. ensifolium x Enid
Haupt), created by Paul Gripp and registered
by the Rod McLellan Co. in 1978.
In the East oriental cymbidiums were
usually collected in the wild and propagated
by division. Only during the last decades
have they been included in micropropagation
routines in Japan, Korea and China.
Thus, not much is known in the West
about their germination and early growth
characteristics.
Germination of species of the subgenera
Cyperorchis and Floribundum does not
differ much from that of other epiphytic
subtropical to tropical orchid genera but
the species of section Jensoa germinate
slower and weaker on conventional media.
Figure 2 shows Cymbidium goeringii (RCHB.
F.) RCHB. F., 1852, (section Jensoa) germination
of less than 50 % from half ripe
Fig. 2 Germination of Cym. goeringii on MSO
1c medium 6 months after sowing.
Fig. 3 Germination of Cym. hookerianum on
MSO 1c medium 4 weeks after sowing.
Fig. 4 Young seedlings of Cym. hookerianum
replated on MSO 1c medium 6 months after
sowing.
seed out of a green capsule, 6 months after
sowing on MSO 1c medium. In contrast
Figure 3 shows Cym. hookerianum RCHB.
F., 1866, (subgenus Cyperorchis) germinating
to nearly 100 % on the same medium
4 weeks after sowing of half ripe seed, also
from a green capsule. The protocorms have
just developed and will turn green soon.
Both sowings were kept under fluorescent
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