Potential Dendrobium Hybrids As Cut Flowers

News source: Horticulture Research Centre , Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Centre (MARDI), Technical Report 1999, 2001-03-01

Orchid Breeding in Malaysia

In the orchid breeding program at MARDI, Malaysia, the development and selection of Dendrobium is being emphasized. Selections of potential hybrids are for plants producing commercial cut flowers or pot plants. Hybridization procedures involving the crossing of promising `stud' parent plants were conducted in 1993 and 1994. A total of 200 crosses were conducted. Two potential hybrids, Dendrobium Tuanku Najihah, a cut flower hybrid and Dendrobium Doctor Sharif, a miniature pot plant, were selected from this program. Both hybrids were accepted and registered by the International Registration Authority for Orchid Hybrids, of the Royal Horticulture Society, England.

Selection of Flower Color

More potential Dendrobium hybrids are also in the pipeline for the Malaysian cut flower industry. Emphasis will be given to the selection of flower color, as well as other desirable agronomic characteristics. At present, the best colours available are yellow, yellowish green, white and white with a slight tinge of purple. Potential Dendrobium progenies with yellow to yellowish green flowers were F30.93, F31.93, F46.93, F58.93, F67.93, F79.94, F126.94, F216.94 and F222.94. Potential Dendrobium progenies with white flowers are F9.93, F23.93, F41.93, F62.93 and F96.94. However of these, F51.93 produced a range of white flowers with a tinge of purple. Another miniature Dendrobium progeny, F78.94, produced white flowers with purple lips.

Evaluation and Release

These potential new Dendrobium hybrids will be further evaluated, selected and propagated for future release, after being accepted for registration by the relevant authority in England.

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