Multiplication of Paphiopedilums Using In Vitro Techniques

Paphiopedilum orchids are among the world’s most popular orchid due to their impressively beautiful flowers. The genus derives its name from the Greek words paphos (Venus) and pedilon (sandal) in allusion to the lady’s slipper-like floral lip of the constituent species. In spite of their tremendous popularity in the floricultural trade, the paphs are often in short supply. The conventional propagation method through division of the axillary bud from the mother plant is very inefficient and time consuming because only one new growth can be obtained per year after a mature plant has flowered. Although propagation through in vitro asymbiotic seed germination had provided an alternative mode of propagating these orchids, seed setting and germination rate of many Paphiopedilum cultivars are extremely low and often affected by many unknown factors. This paper attempts to provide a brief review of the literature available on in vitro propagation systems for different species and hybrids of Paphiopedilum using seeds and other explants.