Syoichi Ichihashi

Orchid production and research in Japan

Old statistics are available regarding orchid production in Aichi prefecture in Japan. The value of orchids produced in 1965 was 15 730 000 yen (

Research on micropropagation of Cymbidium, nobile-type Dendrobium, and Phalaenopsis in Japan

43 694,

Effects of Sucrose, Maltose and Sorbitol on Callus Growth and Plantlet Regeneration in Phalaenopsis, Doritaenopsis and Neofinetia

1 = 360 yen). In 1991 production reached 6 887 181 000 yen (

Callus Growth and Plantlet Regeneration in Taro, Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta (L) Schott (Araceae)

49 194 150,

Effects of complex organic additives on callus growth in three orchid genera, Phalaenopsis, Doritaenopsis, and Neofinetia

1 = 140 yen), which is a 438-fold increase in 26 years. Production of all potted ornamental plants increased 1.93-fold in pot number and 4.45-fold in volume between 1975 and 1991. The increase in potted orchid production was considerably greater, being 2.45-fold in number and 7.95-fold in volume (Fig. 5-1). The total production of pot plants in Japan during 1991 was 204 762 000 pots valued at 100 564 797 000 yen (

Effects of Light Quality on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Cattleya Orchids in vitro

718 319 979). Orchid pot-production was 8.4% (17 211 000) of the number of pots and 29.7% (

Studies on the Media for Orchid Seed Germination

213 341 457) of the volume. Production of orchid-pots in Aichi prefecture alone was 27.9% of the number and 23.1% of the volume (Figs. 5-2, 5-3 ).

Effects of complex organic additives on seed germination and carotenoid content in Cattleya seedlings.

Utilization of clones is an important component in the economic production of orchids. Controlled cultivation is possible and effective only when plants are uniform. Among the three major orchids produced in Japan, only Cymbidium production starts with plantlets multiplied from shoot tips cultured in vitro. These shoot tips produce protocorm-like bodies (PLBs). Shoot development follows PLB formation in many standard-type Cymbidium hybrids. Several miniature-type Cymbidium cultivars and/or temperate species are an exception. Mass rapid clonal propagation (MRCP) of standard-type Cymbidium is fairly easy and was the first to be utilized for commercial production. In nobile-type Dendrobium production, multiplication by traditional cuttings is common. Difficulties in the formation of PLB and a higher risk of somaclonal mutations hinder practical utilization of MRCP in these orchids. Seedlings are used for Phalaenopsis production. Phalaenopsis is a monopodial orchid, which means that research that utilizes shoot tips damages the mother plants. This has created difficulties, and development of MRCP procedures has been delayed. Several MRCP methods using plant parts other than shoot tips have been developed recently, and production of clones has started.