In vitro culture of Doritaenopsis: comparison between formation of the hyperhydric protocorm-like-body (PLB) and the normal PLB.

Characteristics of the hyperhydric protocormlike-bodies (hPLBs) and the normal PLBs (nPLBs) of Doritaenopsis are morphologically and ontogenetically compared. The hPLBs have a translucent and turgid appearance which is due to a lack of air volume in the intercellular spaces. The hPLBs have a lower capacity of shoot formation but a higher capacity of differentiation of new PLBs than the nPLBs. The new PLBs derived from the hPLBs can be recovered from hyperhydricity using a medium containing potato juice. This suggests the possibility that hPLBs can be used for the in vitro propagation of orchid plants.