 |
Asymbiotic
Technique of Orchid Seed Germination |
| Contents:
Chapter 1: The orchid seed: Germination (Orchid mycorrhiza); Chapter 2: A brief history of orchids from seed (History); Chapter 3: The basics [Orchid seed production (green capsule, pollination, pollination of miniature flowers, pollination of vanilla, pollen storage, pollen viability]; Orchid seed harvesting; Orchid seed storage (humidity, hydrates, relative humidity, measuring humidity, constant humidity solutions, longevity, short-lived seed, rehydration); Handling and shipping of orchid seed (static controls, laws); Lab basics (chemical safety, glassware, lab equipment, pH, buffers, suitable pH for germination of orchid seed); Media, sterilization, and bacteriology 101 (chemical sterilization, thermal sterilization, filtration sterilization, denaturation, UV light sterilization, radiation sterilization, microwaves, introductory microbiology); reparation of the media (types of media, fertilizer-based media, improvised media, formulae for expedient orchid seed germination, stock solutions, stock solution preparation, aseptic sowing area, flasks) Chapter 4: Technique [Preparation of the sowing area (glass sheet technique, glove boxes, laminar flow hoods, hands, bleach vs. alcohol); Disinfection of seed (batch washing, filtration, dropwise, decanting, rapidfire, chlorine gas sterilization, floating seed, disinfection times, vacuum treatment, documentation);Green capsule technique (technique); Variations on a theme (use of steam during flasking, techniques for introducing seed, OSP technique, small-volume flasks, sterile area alternatives, lid seals, miscellaneous)] Chapter 5: Post-sowing [Dealing with contamination problems (aggressive efforts, source of contamination, treating plugs, sealing flasks, mites, vacuum treatment); Care of the sown flasks (dry flasks, root growth, disposal of flasks and conditioning); Replate; Deflasking and seedling care. Chapter 6: Advanced techniques [Media modifications (charcoal, water, iron, sugars, vitamins, nitrogen, inositol, amino-acid based media (entire section for cyps!), making your own media, fruit juices and other extracts, anticontaminants in media, nutrient deficiencies), Specific genera (terrestrial orchids); Making your own glove box, Manufacturing baffle ports for a glove box; New directions in seed disinfection (thermal, gas, peroxides, hypochlorites, duration of exposure with hypochlorites, Virkon S, DCCA, outdated techniques); Practicing with inert compounds, Alternative gelling agents (PhytaGel, kappa carrageenan, membrane rafts, capillary media, super absorbent polymers), Viability testing and seed analysis (microscopic examination, seed types, chemical staining, photomicrography, floating seed)] Appendix I: Where to start (media, flasking area, seeds, sowing, easy starts) Appendix II: Improvised home flasking Appendix III: (Sources, conversions, additional reading, trademarks, about the author, about the OSP, how it works) |