Establishment of a short-term storage method via encapsulation of protocorm-like bodies in Phalaenopsis bellina (Rchb. f.) Christenson

Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Phalaenopsis bellina (Rchb. f.) Christenson initiated from leaf explants, followed by proliferation on modifi ed semi-solid, half-strength, MS media, were used in this study. PLBs measuring 3 - 4 mm in diameter were selected for encapsulation with different concentrations of sodium alginate (3, 4 and 5%) and calcium chloride (25, 50, 75 and 100 mM), with non-encapsulated PLBs as the control. The highest survival after 2 weeks incubation at 5°C was 70% from the PLBs encapsulated with 4% sodium alginate plus 75 mM calcium chloride. Storage at 5, 15 and 25°C for up to 60 days, led to a decline in the viability of PLBs with a greater decline when stored at higher temperature. The highest PLB fresh weight of 0.36 g also occurred after storage at 5°C and the lowest fresh weight (0.19 g) occurred after 60 d at 25°C when viability was 0%.