STUDY ON THE RAPID PROPAGATION OF DENDROBIUM OFFICINALE

An efficient micropropagation protocol has been developed for Dendrobium officinale, through protocorm-like bodies (PLBs). A correlation between enhanced differentiation of PLBs of D. officinale by ultrasound and changes in the levels of endogenous hormones and the antioxidant enzyme activities was described. Ultrasound treatments improved the conversion of PLBs of D. officinale to shoots. The highest conversion frequency of PLBs to shoots was obtained following the ultrasound treatment at 300 W for 5 min. The ultrasound-treated PLBs of D. officinale showed a considerable increase in the activities of SOD. The results suggested that ultrasound can be used to regulate the differentiation of PLBs during the micropropagation of Dendrobium species.