Lee, Sang-Sun, Paek, Seong-Soo, and Ryu, Hee-Kyun¹, Paek, Kee-Yoeup^2
1Graduate School (Biological Science and Education) Korea National University of Education, Cheong-Won Kun 363-791, KOREA
²Research Center for the Development of Advenced Horticultural Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, KOREA

Nowadays, orchids are popular in Korean homes and are also important to the horticultural industry. Of the horticultual production value in Korea, more than 15% of total products consist of orchids. Unlike techniques for in vitro micropropagation of orchid, the steps for transplasnting in vitro planets into culture media in case of oriental Cymbidium (temperate Cymbidium) were not studied compared to tropical orchid. In green house nurseries, tissue cultured temperate cymbidiums suffer from deseases causing great loss in plant life. The diseases are considered to originate from culture media generally used by orchid growers. Several orchid culture media wich are popular among orchid growers were compared, by measuring orchid growth, to soils colleted from the habitat of korean native orchids (HKNO) over a period of sixteen months. Two species of orchids Cym. goeringii and Cym. kanran showed relatively better growth and a lesser death rate in the HKNO soil than in other culture media, including sterilized HKNO soil. This result indicates the interactions of microorganisms in culture media for in vitro produced temperate cymbidiums. The fungus, isolated from the roots collected from the two species of orchids mentioned above, was identified as a species of Rhizoctonia repens based on cryptogramic morphologies. The identified microorganism, Rhizoctonia repens, was then applied to the tissue of the in vitro plantlets of five different kinds of commercial orchids, the plantet growth was measured over a period of four months to clarify the effects of the inoculation of Rhizoctonia repens. The peletons in the inoculated orchid roots were noticably observable compared to peletons in noninoculated roots and the inoculated orchid in vitro grew better compared to noninoculated orchids due to the symbiosis of the orchid plant and Rhizoctonia repens.

Bicalho, Hamilton Dias
ESALQ, Piracicaba, BRASIL

Trata-se de um grupamento natural, mais ou menos numeroso, com morfologia floral bastante semelhante o que dificulta o seu reconhecimento.

Acrescente-se que a maioria dos holotypus foram perdidos durante a II Guerra Mundial, aumentando ainda mais a dificuldade. A documentação amealhada pelo Departamento de Genética, ESALQ, USP, e, Piracicaba e da Seção do Orquidário, Instituto de Botânica, SP, permitiu-nos juntar dados que estamos divulgando na presente oportunidade visando um melhor conhecimento desses espécies. Estamos juntando também desenhos das espécies recentemente descritas.

Ospina, Mariano
Harvard Research Associate
Oakes Ames Orchid Herbarium, USA

Colombia is well known worldwide for its extremely high indexes of biodiversity of both plants and animals. Such a biodiversity is closely related to the enormous variety of topographic and climatic features of the country which, in turn, result in a great vatiety of local ecosystems, plant formations, and microclimates.

One of the most attractive manifestations of such a bioversity is to be found in the Orchid family probaly the largest family of flowering plants in the world in terms of known species. In Colombia there are alredy registers of over 3,000 orchid species and the list is being increased with every new area that becomes explored by the taxonomists.

Unfortunately, the growing processes of natural ecosystems destruction and wanton extraction of orchid plants from the wild is taking a heavy toll on these orchid species, many of which have been practilly extreminated in the wild and survive only foreign plantations.

The paper Orchids and Ecology in Colombia represents an attemp to show the correlations between ecosystems and main orchid species in Colombia, as a basic step towards the establishment of protective measures for both specific and ecological conservation of these wonderful plants that for many are the true jewells of our jungles and savannas.

Chen, W.H., Y.M.Fu, W.T.Tsai, M.S.Chyou, R.M.Hsieh, C.C.Wu & Y.S.Lin
Departament of Horticulture, Taiwan Sugar Research Institute, Tainan, TAIWAN, R.O.C.

Recently, Taiwan Corporation has devoted much effects to develop Phalaenopsis business. New commercial varieties are released for market every year. Protecting breeding right of a new variety by biologycal marker has become more and more important for this business. This study was aimed at establishing the techniques of DNA amplication finger printing (DFA) for identification of varieties and detection of phylogenetic relationship in Phalaenopsis.

Results showed that a modified Gawel and Jarret (1991) method could extract intact genomic DNA (23.1kb) from leaf tissue. It was found that the optimum condition for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was a 10 1 reaction solution containing 20 ng DNA, 0.5U Taq polymerase, 6 pmole primers, and 200 M dNTP run at the conditions of 94-36-72C (60-7-70 sec) for 2 cycles, then 94-40-72 C (6-7-70 sec) for 55 cycles.

When twenty random primers (OPF1-20) were tested and DAF patterns were compared among 5 genera, 5 species in same genus and 5 clones in the same species. Results indicated that no matter how similar the genetic background, distinguishable bands in DAF patterns among the varieties were obtainable if a suitable primer was used. Analysis of DAF patterns, using OPC-7 primer, among Phal.amboinensis, Phal.amabilis, F1 progeny and three other wild species showed that the F1 progeny can produce polymorphism bands derived from its parents that were different from other wild species. In study of phylogenetic relationship, DAF patterns of 16 wild species by using OPAI-20 primers were analyzed with similarity software. Datas showed that without morphological traits, relationship of Phalaenopsis wild species was detected easily and accurately via DAF patterns. It is concluded that DAF is powerful and useful tool for protecting patent rights of new varieties in Phalaenopsis.

Chen, W.H., V.M.Fu, W.T.Tsai, M.S.Chyou, R.M.Hsieh, C.C.Wu & Y.S.Lin
Departament of Horticulture, Taiwan Sugar Research Institute, Tainan, TAIWAN, R.O.C.

Phalaenopsis an indigenous orchid to Taiwan, is one of the most valued floricultures in the world. Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) has developed an enterprice system for the management of Phalaenopsis Businesis in 1988. The Departament of Horticulture at Taiwan Sugar Research Institute (TSRI) is responsible for the R&D works, such as germplasm collection, breeding, cultivation, diseases and pests control, and automation of greenhouse environmental control as well as transferring technologies. At the same time, TSC has set up the Wushulin Orchid Propagation Center for the mass propagation of Phalaenopsis orchid. Greenhouse with automated facilities have also been successively built a Dalin, Hsihoo, Pooli, and Taitung to meet the commercial production of Phalaenopsis.

TSRI has collected 31 wild species (259 clones) and 1,200 superior varieties for the improvement of Phalaenopsis and production of commercial seedlings. Cytogenetic studies and computer analysis of the pedigree of parental varieties have been carried out to understand sexual incompatibility and to desing the breeding program. Micropropagation of Phalaenopsis via adventitious buds and/or protocorn-like-bodies was developed for mass production of superior clones selected. molecular techniques such as isozyme patterns and DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) have been used to protect the patent right of our new varieties. The following researches are also being undertaken at TSRI: (1) screening genetic markers via RAPD to increase breeding efficiency (2) creating somatic hybrids by cell electrofusion (3) establishing transformation system for Phalaenopsis (4) studying off season flower production and (5) developing an automated cultivation system for production of orchid plants.

Up to date, 116 hybrids have been selected and released to produce two million commercial seedings for overseas and domestic markets. They were registered in Sander's List of Orchid Hybrids at Royal Horticultural Society using "Taisuco"(Taiwan Sugar Corporation) as an acronym. On the other hand, superior varieties were also selected from different crosses of plants for micropropagation of mericlones and exhibition in several international orchid show. The achievement of Phalaenopsis breeding at TSC is being confirmed by numerous awards gained in many international following show.

Faria, Ricardo T.¹ , Carolina W. Geertings² & Rolf D. Illg
¹Dpto. de Genética e Evolução, UNICAMP, C.P. 6109, CEP: 13.083-970 Campinas, SP, BRASIL.
²Bolsista do CNPq - Empresa Pró Clone, Holambra, BRASIL

Great variability and beauty of Dendrobium nobile hybrids has attracted interest of biotechnological lababoratory for rapid clonal propagation of superior genotypes of this species.

This study was performed to establish a protocol for micropropagation of Dendrobium nobile using approaches to reduce the undesirable somaclonal variation. In order to get this aim, following procedures were used: low concentration of fitoregulators, reduction and limitation of subcultures, avoidance of callus formation and finally stimulation of axillary bud propagation.

Four selected hybrids of Den. nobile indicated by Frans the Weyer, Ornamental Plants Ltda., Holambra, Brazil, were used in this study, taking in account the following criteria: first buld flowering, plant heigh, sepals and petals coloration, number, size and durability of the flowers.

Webb, Marguerite
J&L Orchids, Easton, CT, USA

The current fervent interest in the genus Masdevallia has been sustained and enhanced by the abundance of new discoveries in the abundance of new discoveries in the last 10 or 15 years. More than half of the approximately 400 species that comprise the genus have been described since 1978. Sixty new species have been discovered since 1993 alone. Some of the stunning new masdevallias, such as Masdevallia datura, Masdevallia princeps and Masdevallia exquisita, have been propagated and even hybridized, and are making a substantial impact on horticulture. Other recent discoveries remain rare nad elusive, but may be equally desirable. A look at many of these lovely new masdevallias will give us a glimpse into the future of the Masdevallia hobby.

Cox, Anthony V., Alec M. Pridgeon and Mark W. Chase.
Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DS, U.K.

The slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae: Orchidaceae), a group of five genera and over 100 species with widespread taxonomic and horticultural interesent, have been the subjects of numerous systematic studies for a century, resulting in generic concepts that have fluctuated wildly in scope. We sequenced internal transcribed ribosomal spacers (ITS 1 and 2) for 70 taxa and subjected the aligned sequences to parsimony analysis. Our results confirm the monophyly of Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum, and Phragmipedium.

Paphiopedilum curretly comprises subgenus Brachypetalum (two sections) and subgenus Paphiopedilum (five sections).Sequence data show that Brachypetalum cannot be maintained as a monophyletic subgenus unless section Brachypetalum is transferred to subgenus Paphiopedilum. We recommend that section Parvisepalum be elevated to subgeneric rank. In subgenus Paphiopedilum, section Coryopedilum is paraphyletic to section Pardalopetalum, and that both shoul be combined under the concept Pardalopetalum, wich has priority. The most recent sectional delimitations in Pharagmipedium are likewise supported, although the segregation and elevation of Mexipedium to generic rank are upheld. The taxonomic changes proposed acommodate molecular data while maintaining stability of the nomenclature.

Tokunaga, Roy
H&R Nurseries, Waimanalo, HI, USA

It is beyond the scope of my program today to cover all of the basic as well as the interesting aspects of Orchid genetics. I have limited myself to several goals. Firts, I plan to cover some or the basic principles and apply then to Orchids. At the same time, I hope to create the interest and demonstrate the need for more study individually. It won't hurt to have several students proficient in genetics. To keep things in proper perspective, it takes an entire semester in college and several hundred hours of homework to understand the basic. But don't be discouraged, we have a long life span. At the end, I would like to take a look into the future.

A general definition of genetics would be the study of how biological traits are transmitted from one generation to the next. In all living things we have a genetic blueprint that is chemically coded. These complex molecules are called chromosomes. They are composed of four different deoyribonucleotides (DNA). Most advanced organisms have many chromosomes and they can be identified and separated into pairs. For example, chromosomes can be photographed at 3000x and organized by size, length, and position of the centromere. These traits can be used to determine the identity of a species or hybrid.

In the continuity of life, it is important that this blueprint be copied correctly in every cell of an organism as well as passed on to the next generation. We all started from a single celled embryo many years ago.

Before cell division takes place, the genetic blueprint must be replicated and correctly separated (mitosis) so that each cell has the identical blueprint. In the life span of most larger organisms, many tens of thousands of cell divisions are accomplished every day.

Each species has a constant number and type of chromosomes. Look at chromosomes # 11 and #12. These photographic records were used by Dr. Haruyuki Kamemoto to support the species status of Dendrobium biggibum from Den. phalaenopsis.

OOI, Michael H.C.
Ooi Leng Sun Nurseries, MALAYSIA

Malaysia has always had a special place in the imagination of the orchid worl With therecent discovery and rediscovery of many new species, we in Malaysia can feel that we are a source for new and exciting breeding materials and marketable orchids.

We have orchid specie with fragrance it emits smells like rotting meat.
We have orchid specie with prtals so long, it measures 80cm
We have orchid specie, so valuable, it is sold by the inches.
We also have the worlds' largest orchid specie.
We have orchid farms in the hundreds of acres that produce some of the worlds' finest orchid cut-flowers.
We even have an orchid city in Malaysia known affectionately as SHAH ALAM, and of course we have an equal shares of orchid fanations.

The survival of most species are entirely in our hands, and like all species may it be flora or fauna, their only home left in the National Parks Our National Parks are created with the sole aim to encourage and to boost the awareness of our natural heritage. Only with sach realization, the richness of our 800 million years old equatorial rain forest could be better understood and appreciated Going back to nature seems to be very popular and this had contributed greatly to the eco-tourism industry.

Thammasiri, Kanchit
Departament of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road Phya Thai, Bangkok 10400, THAILAND

Induced mutations by gamma irradiation can be one of the promising methods for orchid breeding. Protocom-like bodies (PLBs) of Blc. Alma kee and Blc. Greenwich were irradiated with gamma rays at 0, 20, 60, 80, 110 and 130 Gy. Doses between 80 and 110 Gy are appropriate to apply for induced mutations in both cultivars. Anoter esperiment with more samples was conducted. Gamma rays were applied at 0, 70, 100 and 130 Gy. The results showed that irradiated PLBs of buth cultivars had slow growth rata and some PLBs turned brown and died. More severe effects were observed when higher doses had been applied.

Halbinger, Federico
Apartado Postal 524, México, D.F., MÉXICO

A Laelia speciosa se le considera como uma de las especies más bellas del género y quizá una de las más notables de todas las orquídeas. Hay una infinita variedad floral poco conocida, tanto en su tamaño, como en su forma, textura y ante todo en su colorido. El diseño del labelo es tan variable como las huellas digitales y por tanto se puede decir que cada flor es diferente y única. Son raras las flores totalmente blancas, pero si se conoce un buen número de ellas. muy hermosas y expressivas son las flores semialbas y las de color muy claro con delicados tonos; también son muy solicitadas las flores de colorido muy intenso y contrastante. Se presentan transparencias de 5 grupos diferentes de las variaciones de colorido floral de Laelia speciosa además se relata su historia y sinónimos, etimologia, nombres comunes, datos de identificación, cultivo, distribución, geográfica, hábitat y su estado de conservación.

Pradhan, Keshab C.
President, Sikkim Natura Conservation Foundation
Vice Presidente, The Orchid Society of India, INDIA

It is sad but true the fine balance that linked men and nature from time irrememorial are getting disarraved at a speed unthinkable in our lifetime. A defeatish mentality will be cowardish on our part and the future generations will not forgive us for our undecisiveness. It is time to set and launch a worldwide movament with all our vigour so that our cause do not go unheard or unattended.

Most of the habitats of the Orchid species are located in developing and least developed countries. Conservation of nature, though advocated with all fanfare, is slow to take root in these countries and obviously they have other compelling priorities.

Encouragingly, there is a world-wide concern for conservation of biologial diversity in all its facets for whitch this august City happened to play the most significient role as the host in very racent years, RIO Convention is now the pass-word in all world environmental meets. But in reality where do we stand? What tangible results has been achieved in real filed inspite of good amount of funding by the Internacional Agencies?

How can we go about to save this unique natural heritage along with all their companion plants both in-situ and ex-situ an a world-wide basis involving the people staying in and around these ecosystems is exactly the ISSUE. It needs a World-Wide movement involving poorest of the poor and richest of the rich. The former looking open then as a source of economic gain, whether by eco-tourism or scientific growing, and the later as proud possessor of an unique natural creation wich modern technology cannot create. A key-note address on this topic followed by series of panel discussions both within and outside the Conference Carried over a week should help us to arrive at a possible solution or at least a world-wide accepted approach. Today WOS is take as one of the world's prestigious horticultural meet. It would be in our mutual interest to involve Ambassadors of all orchid-rich countries based in Rio, Orchid Conservationists from all Latin American countries as they have not only rich experience but doing some excellent works on conservation which can well be emulated by others, besides representatives of Global Environmental Facility, UNEP, CITES, World Tourism Council (as wild orchids could be an important World Tourism Council (as wild Orchids could be an important product for eco-tourism) WWr-USA world bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank etc. All these Agencies are now stressing more and more sustainable development with special emphasis on conservation of biologically-rich 'hot spots'. Orchids with its largest numbert of species in the family of plants could be prominantly projected. More so the current trend is to work through Non-governmental organizations for effective result. 15 th WOC with principal sponsors like american Orchid Society and the Royal Horticultural Society could rightly take the lead. Opportunity to hold such prestigious Conference in such exceeedingly Orchid-rich-country - that way entire South and Central America is rare and such an opportunity should not be lost.

Freitas, Juliana C. de, J. A. M. Rezende & W. Kitajima, Departamento de Fitopatologia, ESALQ/USP Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900
Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa em Microscopia Eletrônica, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900
Partially supported by FAPESP
Fellows of CNPq. BRASIL

Viruses are considered the main pathogens of orchids worldwide, however only a few studies have been conduced about them in Brazil. A survey of viruses in orchids cultures and collection in the of São Paulo was made. Hundreds of plants representing several genera, species and hybrids from 11 commercial orchid productions from 9 localities, besides the orchid collection at the "Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz"(ESALQ/USP) were analyzed.

Samples were collected randomly, with of without visible symptoms brought to the lab and tested for the presence of virus infection thourght serological test of PTA-ELISA (Plate trapped antigen - Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Antisera against the following viruses were used Odontoglossum ringspot tobamovirus (ORSV), Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus (CyMV), Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Cymbidium ringspot tombusvirus (CyRSV) and Dasheen mosaic potyvirus (DsMV). When necessary, mechanical transmission to indicator plants and electron microscopic examinations were done.

Of a total 888 plants, from commercial growers, tested for the presence of ORSV, 139 (15,65%) were infected, while of 921 samples tested for CyMV, 128 (13,9%) were positive for virus at ESALQ orchid collection, of 265 plants tested for ORSV, 27 (10,19%) were positive, while of 300 samples tested for CyMV, 30 (10%) were infected with this virus. All the 634 orchid samples from commercial orchids cultures and 300 from ESLAQ orchid collection tested for CMV, CyRSV and DsMV, reacted negativelly.

Baciliform particles smilar to the orchid fleck virus, were also found in some samples, associated to ringspot type symptoms, in thin sections from the lesions, examined by transmission electron microscopy. These particles have been described previously in orchids in Brazil.

These data indicate that ORSV and CyMV were predominant, appearing in all of the orchid growers surveyed, in a great number of orchid genera and species. This result agrees with the international literature, wich shows that these virus are spread worlwide in orchid cultures. The detection of orchid fleck virus-like particles indicates that, besides ORSV and CyMV, this virus may also become important for the crop. Both CyRSV and DsMV do not seem to occur in our conditions, since they were not detected in any sample tested. Also, they have not been reported infecting orchids in Brazil. Although the CMV is frequently found infecting several crops in Brazil and has already been reported infecting orchids in the country, in 1947, it is not aparently important at present, since all the samples tested negative for this vírus.

Although ORSV and CyMV were detected im samples collected in many localities, their incidence is not generalized, showing that virus-free plants can be found used as stocks for further propagation, wich will result on the control the diseases caused by these two viruses.

Pardo Isla, Alexis
La Orquídea, VENEZUELA