Breeding Techniques of Orchids, Role of Tissue Culture and Micropropagation in Mass Cultivation and Its Ecological Importance: A Review

Abstract

Orchids (family Orchidaceae) are one of most diverse and largest family of flowering plants, with over 28,000 species globally. They have varied growth habitats (terrestrial, epiphytic, lithophytic, and saprophytic) and possess highly specialized flowers with longer life span. This makes orchids a valuable ornamental flower in the global floriculture sector.  Due to increased commercial demand and insufficiency of conventional breeding methods, advanced techniques like mutational breeding, molecular marker-assisted breeding, transgenic breeding, and genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9) have been adopted to produce improved varieties with desired traits on a large scale. Plant tissue culture and microprogation has transformed orchid propagation by permitting the bulk creation of uniform, disease-free plants through in vitro methods involving protocorm development from leaves, shoots, root tips etc. and somatic embryogenesis. The efficiency of propagation is significantly improved using synthetic seed technology. Due to the presence of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, orchids are valuable not only as ornamental flowers but are also used in traditional medicine, culinary flavoring, perfumery, and pharmaceuticals. Orchids also maintain a vital symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, essential for seed germination and nutrient acquisition, highlighting their ecological dependence. They are sensitive to microenvironment, climate conditions, pollinators, mycorrhizal association and hence ecologically serve as bioindicator of forest health. However, overexploitation, habitat destruction, and climate change are posing a growing threat to orchids. Therefore, to guarantee their sustainable use and long-term survival coordinated conservation strategies such as habitat protection, community awareness, germplasm conservation, and advanced biotechnological approaches are crucial.