Effect of Citric Acid on the Organogenesis of <i>Cymbidium floribundum</i>

Abstract

We examined the effects of citric acid (CA) on organogenesis from protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Cymbidium floribundum to determine the appropriate concentration of CA for organogenesis. Explants were cultured in modified MS media supplemented with various concentrations of CA and maintained at 25Ϯ1℃ and a 24 h light period for 9 weeks. Addition of 0.1 g/L CA in modified MS media partially reduced the browning intensity in the cultured PLBs, which significantly increased PLB formation, shoot formation from the PLBs, and root formation from the shoots. More than 0.1 g/L CA in modified MS media increased the browning intensity in cultured PLBs. We concluded that CA can effectively control the browning problem in PLB culture of C. floribundum, and addition of 0.1 g/L CA in modified MS media was optimum for organogenesis.