DOI 10.17148/IARJSET.201 6.3530.pdf

Orchid seeds are unique, small, and lack endosperm, requiring a mycorrhizal fungus for germination in nature. Asymbiotic seed germination in vitro can be achieved with sugars and mineral nutrients, and various orchid species have responded to this method. The paper reviews literature on asymbiotic seed germination and the role of organic additives in promoting seed germination, protocorm development, and seedling growth. Orchids have highly specialized pollination systems, diverse habitats, and advanced evolutionary trends, making them fascinating to botanists and horticulturists. In vitro mass propagation techniques are being used for conservation and commercialization of orchid species and hybrids due to their slow growth and low germination rates. The structure and size of orchid seeds are striking, with small, spherical embryos and limited food reserves, relying on fungal endophytes for nutrition. Asymbiotic seed germination has emerged as an important procedure for propagating orchid species, using a culture medium with sucrose, and immature seed germination has added new dimensions to conservation and commercialization.