Effect of various polyamines on production of protocorm-like bodies in orchid—Dendrobium ‘Sonia’

Polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine all at three concentrations viz., 0.2, 0.4 and 1.0 mM were tested, by supplementing to MS basal+4.44 μm BAP medium. The explant used was fractionated plb. Ethylene and methane was measured at 20 and 40 days after inoculation (DAI). Among various polyamines tested, maximum number of plb’s (protocorm-like bodies) were produced in putrescine 0.4 mM treatment. Increase (1.0 mM) or decrease (0.2 mM) in concentration caused a decrease in the production of plb’s. All spermidine and spermine treatments resulted in the production of less number of plb’s than control. No ethylene evolution was observed in any of the polyamine treatments. However, methane evolution was observed in all the polyamine treatments. The absolute amounts, of methane evolved could not be related to the observed plb’s production response. However, when the evolution of methane was more than 1 nmol per gram FW h⁻¹, poor plb’s production was observed.