Comparative analysis of seed germination in two european orchid genous
Dunand Martin Sophie – Ing.HES
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève

One way to protect wild european terrestrial orchids is to learn how to propagate them  in order to supplement and/or extend the natural populations.
Few parameters are essential two multiplicate them with success from the seeds :

- Type of pollinisation
- Stade of maturity of the seeds
- Conditions and duration of storage
- Type of pre-traetment (duration and type of product)
- Type of in vitro medium, with or without fungies (symbiotic or asymbiotic conditions)
- Stages and conditions of in-vitro culture

For each species, answers are different.
Here are exemples of our last research on Orchis apifera, Dactylorhiza sambucina and Dactylorhiza fuchsii :

- O.apifera : 		With mature seeds :
In asymbiotic conditions, protocorms grew better at 16°C than at 21°C
For some species of fungies, the stade of inoculation of the medium is important 
		
- D.sambucina :	With imature seeds 35 days after pollinisation :
Cross polinisation give better results than autopollinisation
Pretretment with CaoCl 5% during 20minutes give better results than with HSO4 2% during 3 minutes first and, after  CaOCl 5% during 20minutes

- D.fuchsii :		With mature seeds :
In symbiotic conditions, the rate of germination is better than in asymbiotic conditions
In symbiotic conditions, the growth of protocorms is better at 16°C than at 21°C
The species of fungus influence more than using temperatures or frequency of replacing protocorms (to plant out) in new petri disches.

Dunand Martin Sophie
Adjointe de direction du Jardin
Responsable de l'unité de conservation (labo CIV, banque de graines)	
1 chemin de l'Impératrice
Case postale 60
1292 Chambésy/GE
Suisse

Email : sophie.dunand-martin@cjb.ville-ge.ch
Tel: 0041224185142
Fax:0041224185113