Studies on morphological diversity pollination biology propagation and conservation in some North West Himalayan orchids

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed to study the orchids of North West Himalayas (nestled in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh), with a view to collect and identify orchid species from the North West Himalayan region and assess their morphological diversity: analyze the habit and habitat of different species with a view to understanding their habitat preferences; understand the pollination biology of some of the selected orchid species; and assess in vitro propagation potential of some of the commercially important and/or endangered species so as to develop efficient mass propagation protocols for their conservation. The study included 28 species from 22 genera, with the Epidendroids being most abundant. The physico-chemical requirements of different species varied, and they inhabited different ecological niches within a given geographical area. An attempt was also made to investigate the pollination biology of six orchid species (Calanthe tricarinata, Cephalanthera longifolia, Crepidium acuminatum, Eulophia dabia, Goodyera repens, Herminiumn lanceaunm). The pollinators of the studied species belong to the order Hymenoptera, with biotic pollination predominant. In viro asymbiotic germination potential of immature seeds in three commercially important andor endangered orchids, Coelogvne cristata, Goodera repens, and Vanda cristata was successfully assessed. It was found that the development of protocorms into seedlings was monopolar in all investigated taxa. The effect of various growth additives, such as auxins and cytokinins on seed germination, protocorm growth, and seedling development varied in all the presently investigated species. newline