Abstract
The present study reports optimization of in vitro rooting of Cattleya shoots with the aim to increase survival rate during acclimatization Shoots (2.0 - 2.5 cm) which were regenerated in vitro were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and the effect of various parameters such as type and concentration of auxin [0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg.L-1 indole butyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)], medium strength (full and half strength), sucrose concentration (0, 15 and 30 g.L-1:1) and light intensity [photosynthetic photon flux density (PHD) of 30, 60, 90 mu mol.m(-2).s(-1) were tested. Half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.4 mg.L-1 IBA, 3% sucrose and 60 mu mol.m(-2).s(-1) PPM were found as suitable conditions for optimal induction of roots. In vitro regenerated Cattleya plantlets were successfully transferred to potting medium containing bark:perlite:peatmoss (1:1:1) and perlite:peatmoss (1: 1), and 98.3 and 80.7% were survived respectively.