IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF COELOGYNE FLACCIDA LINDL.: AN ORCHID HAVING HORTICULTURAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Coelogyne flaccida Lindl. is a rare pseudobulbous epiphyte having considerable therapeutic as well as medicinal potential.The present investigation describes a protocol for mass propagation of this conservation reliant orchid.About 95% and 78% germination was recorded on half strength MS basal medium and Knudson C medium fortified with 3% sucrose, 0.8% agar, 10% coconut water, and 0.3% activated charcoal within 4 and 8 wks of culture respectively.Protocorm multiplication was induced on half strength MS basal medium fortified with varying concentrations (0.5-2.0 mgL -1 ) of TDZ, BAP, and KN along with 0.5 mgL -1 NAA and 0.5 mgL -1 IBA.A notable increment in shoot number was noticed when protocorm derived explants were exposed to varying levels of additives like adenine sulphate and banana homogenate.Rooting (100%) was obtained on half strength MS basal medium fortified with varying concentrations of IBA (0.5-2.0 mgL -1 ).After 3 months of initial acclimatization, the seedlings/plantlets exhibited appreciable growth and a healthy survival rate (85%).COELOGYNE LINDL.(Orchidaceae) is a large asiatic genus comprising of 598 species is distributed throughout SouthEast Asia, Sumatra, and the Himalayas (POWO, 2024).Coelogyne flaccida Lindl., commonly known as loose Coelogyne, is a cool growing forest epiphyte restricted to the subtropical regions of the Himalayas (900-2300 m amsl) (Clayton, 2002).The species blooms from spring to early summer and produces large, heavily scented flowers having considerable horticultural value.