ISHS Acta Horticulturae 714: XXII International Eucarpia Symposium, Section Ornamentals, Breeding for Beauty
BREEDING FOR TROPICAL MINIATURE POT DENDROBIUM ORCHIDS |
| Author: | A.A. Fadelah |
| Keywords: | breeding, tropical Dendrobium orchids, potted, miniatures |
| Abstract:
In the orchid industry, miniature pot orchids are becoming popular worldwide. In 1976 an orchid breeding programme was initiated at MARDI. The main objective was to generate many new tropical quality orchid hybrids, for both the pot and cut flower orchid industry. Miniature Dendrobium was one of the orchid genera that was given emphasis in MARDI’s breeding programme. A successful breeding programme depends very much on the selection of suitable parents, to achieve the desirable miniature plant types with free flowering habit, attractive flower colour, shape and size. Several miniature Dendrobium hybrids were chosen as parents in the crossings. Dendrobium ‘Chao Praya Gem’, Dendrobium ‘Chao Praya Gem alba’ and Dendrobium ‘Peewee’ were selected from Thailand. Orchid species, Dendrobium bigibbum and orchid hybrid, Dendrobium ‘Spellbound Compactum’ were selected from Australia. Within 5 years and from three cross combinations, three potential miniature Dendrobium hybrids were developed through this breeding programme. The first cross combination was between Dendrobium bigibbum and Dendrobium ‘Chao Praya Gem’. From this segregating population, the potential progeny registered as Dendrobium ‘Doctor Sharif’, had all the good features for a miniature pot orchid. The plant structure is small with attractive sprays of small attractive purple coloured flowers. The second cross combination was between Dendrobium ‘Peewee’ and Dendrobium ‘Chao Praya Gem’. The miniature hybrid selected, which was registered as Dendrobium ‘Tuanku Fauziah’ is free flowering, producing many small white coloured flowers with purple coloured interior lip. The third miniature hybrid Dendrobium line F167.95, was derived from cross between Dendrobium ‘Spellbound Compactum’ and Dendrobium ‘Chao Praya Gem alba’. The selected hybrid is free flowering, with attractive and slight curly white to greenish white flowers and purplish coloured interior frilled lip. The details of each cross combination are discussed. | |
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