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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol for Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr.: A terrestrial medicinal orchid of Bangladesh
Authors
Bishakha Chowdhury, Tripa Paul, MD. Mahbubur Rahman, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik
Abstract
Geodorum densiflorum
(Lam.) Schltr. is an endangered terrestrial orchid of Bangladesh, highly valued
for its ornamental appeal and therapeutic applications, including the treatment
of diabetes, menstrual irregularities and wound healing. Due to habitat
destruction and the inherent difficulties of natural seed germination without
symbiotic fungi, this species faces severe conservation threats. This study
established a highly reproducible in vitro propagation protocol via
asymbiotic seed germination and micropropagation utilizing rhizome and leaf
explants. Four basal media (MS, PM, MVW and KC) were evaluated. The highest
seed germination rate and earliest seedling development were achieved on
Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium followed by PM basal medium. For mass
micropropagation, rhizome segments exhibited maximum multiple shoot buds (MSBs)
induction (58.67%; 5.76 ± 0.16 shoots/explant) on MS medium fortified with 2.0
mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l NAA. Conversely, leaf segments successfully produced
Protocorm-Like Bodies (PLBs) with the highest frequency (58.67%) on MS medium
supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 1.0 mg/l Picloram. Shoot elongation was
optimal on solid MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l Kn and 0.6 mg/l IAA, yielding a
maximum length increase of 4.00 cm. Strong and stout root systems were
successfully induced on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l IBA and 1.0 mg/l
NAA, generating an average of 4.17 roots per seedling. Regenerated seedlings
were successfully acclimatized with a 85% survival rate in a potting mixture of
sterile sand, sawdust, small bricks and charcoal. This optimized protocol
provides a robust pathway for the rapid mass propagation and ex situ conservation
of this critically endangered medicinal orchid.
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Pages:113-118
How to cite this article:
Bishakha Chowdhury, Tripa Paul, MD. Mahbubur Rahman, Tapash Kumar Bhowmik "Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol for <i>Geodorum densiflorum</i> (Lam.) Schltr.: A terrestrial medicinal orchid of Bangladesh". International Journal of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 113-118
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