A protocol for plant regeneration via direct induction of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) from leaf segments of Tolumnia Snow Fairy was developed as a basis for mass production. Ten-month-old, in vitro–grown donor plantlets were obtained by inducing shoots from buds on the flower stalk. Leaf segments harvested from plantlets of different heights and from expanding leaves at different positions were compared, as were two BA concentrations with 0.5 mg·L−1 NAA. The greatest rate of PLB induction (16.7%) was observed when leaf segments taken from 1- to 2-cm height plants were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−1 BA and 0.5 mg·L−1 NAA after 16 weeks of culture. When using leaf explants, only inner, expanding leaves cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 4 mg·L−1 BA and 0.5 mg·L−1 NAA resulted in PLB induction, at an average rate of 25.5 PLBs per explant. After 16 weeks of culture, histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that PLBs originated from epidermal cells of leaf explants. PLBs of 1 to ≤2 mm in diameter continued to proliferate after 4 weeks of culture. These secondary PLBs could be produced from either whole PLBs or the upper side of PLBs. Finally, PLBs were regenerated into plantlets. After ≈14 months of culture, fully developed plants exhibiting well-developed roots and shoots were acclimatized. These plants grew well, with 1-year survival rates of nearly 73%, for plants originating as explants taken from 1- to 2-cm tall plants, and of 79%, for plants originating as explants taken from inner leaves. Some mature plants flowered 1 year after transplantation. This study presents a simple system that can provide a large number of PLBs for mass propagation in a short time that can be converted into plants and also used for the new cultivars of Tolumnia orchids.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a public health crisis globally. Against the backdrop of global resilience, studies have demonstrated the therapeutic value of home gardening as a measure to strengthen human health. However, there is a lack of comparative studies on its benefits across countries. Studies need to examine the role of home gardening in improving public health in various societies to understand and encourage this practice broadly and effectively. We chose Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam as case studies, which have suffered substantial pandemic impacts, with millions of infections and thousands of deaths. We explored and compared the perceptions of people on home gardening and its health benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted online surveys in three countries between May 1 and September 30, 2022, with a total of 1172 participants. Data were collated on perceived pandemic stress, challenges and solutions in gardening, home gardening intentions, and mental and physical health benefits. In these countries, we found that perceived pandemic stress positively affects home gardening intentions, whereby the motivation of Vietnamese people is the highest. Challenges hinder gardening intentions, while the solutions only positively affect gardening intentions in Taiwan and Vietnam. Home gardening intentions positively affect mental and physical health, whereby there are higher mental health benefits in Taiwanese people than in Thai people. Our findings potentially support public health recovery and promote healthy lifestyles during the COVID-19 pandemic.