Sl No

Topic

Dr.Lakshman     Chandra     De,     Principal     Scientist(Hort.),NRC for Orchids-737106, Sikkim

Collection of germplasm, Production of Planting Materials,
Production,  Post-harvest  Management  and  Preparation  of DUS Test Guidelines

• Ex-situ conservation of 30 species of orchids on 8 different tree logs, 7 species of vandaceous orchids, 12   species   of      Cymbidium,   30      hybrids   of
  Cymbidium, 23 hybrids of Vanda, 22 hybrids of Dendrobium, 26 species of Dendrobium, 16 species of terrestrial orchids, 17 hybrids of   Aranda, 9 hybrids of   Mokara, 6 species of   Paphiopedilum, 13 hybrids of Oncidium, 9 hybrids of   Cattleya, 2 species and 20 hybrids of Phalaenopsis.
• Production  of  2000  plantlets  of  different  orchid hybrids through conventional way
• Orchid  hybrids  of  Cymbidium,  Dendrobium, Vanda,    Phalaenopsis,    Cattleya,    Mokara, Oncidium and Arandasuitable for different altitudes identified.    Pot mixes suited for commercial cultivation of Cymbidium (Cocochips + Cocopeat + Brick pieces + Slow release  fertilizer  (3:  3:  1:  1g), Dendrobium(Coco peat + brick pieces + tree bark (1: 1: 1) andCattleya (Cocochips + brick piece + leaf mould/ leaf fern (1:1:1) standardized. Techniques for round the year cultivation of Dendrobiumdeveloped by selecting different hybrids developed.
• A    number    of    hybrids    of    Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Vanda, Mokara, Oncidium and Arandaorchids evaluated for their vase life. Stages of harvest of different classes of Cymbidium (Two buds open stage) and Dendrobium (50% bud open stage) orchids standardized for improved vase life. Chemical preservatives for pulsing (5% sucrose), impregnation (1000 ppm CoCl2), bud opening (4% sugar +200 ppm salicylic acid) and vase solutions  (2% sucrose + 200ppm  8-HQC)  of Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids identified for enhanced vase life. Suitable packaging materials  (cellophane  papers)  identified  for packaging of Cymbidium orchids.
• The  three  genera  of  orchids  viz.  Cymbidium Sw., Dendrobium Sw. and Vanda Jones ex R. Br. are eligible for registrationunder Act upto 26th   March,  2015.  Guidelines  of  two  genera :CattleyaLindl. andPhalaenopsisBlume are finalized and published in PVJ of India and notified during April, 2014 for registration. 2nd Meet of Orchid Task Force (3/2012) was held at NRC for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim on 30th -31st January, 2014 and morphological descriptors  of  Paphiopedilum(76)  were finalized and DUS Test Guidelines of Oncidiumfinalized and submitted to Plant Authority. DUS test Guidelines of Oncidium is published in PVJ of India, April, 2014 issue.

• Orchid hybrids of Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Vanda,Phalaenopsis,  Cattleya,  Mokara,  Oncidium  and Arandasuitable for different altitudes identified.
• Pot  mixes  suited  for  commercial  cultivation  of Cymbidium ,DendrobiumandCattleya) standardized.
• Techniques   for   round   the   year   cultivation   of Dendrobiumdeveloped  by  selecting  different hybrids developed.
• Stages of harvest of different classes of Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids standardized for improved vase life.
• Chemical preservatives for pulsing, impregnation, bud opening and vase solutions of Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids identified for enhanced vase life.
• Suitable    packaging    materials    identified    for packaging of Cymbidium orchids.
• The three genera of orchids viz. Cymbidium Sw., Dendrobium Sw. and Vanda Jones ex R. Br. are eligible for registrationunder Act upto 26th  March, 2015.
• Guidelines     of     two     genera     :CattleyaLindl. andPhalaenopsisBlume are finalized and published in PVJ of India and notified during April, 2014 for registration.
• 2nd Meet of Orchid Task Force (3/2012) was held at NRC for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim on 30th  -31st January, 2014 and morphological descriptors of Paphiopedilum(76) were finalized and DUS Test Guidelines of  Oncidiumfinalized and submitted to Plant Authority.
• DUS test Guidelines of Oncidium is published inPVJ of India, April, 2014 issue.

1. Selection and cultivation   of suitable hybrids of commercial orchids for a particular location.
2. Potting mixtures of Cymbidium, Dendrobium and Cattleya orchids.
3. Post-harvest technology of Cymbidium orchids.
4. Testing farmers varieties/hybrids through DUS guidelines.

1. Regeneration  of  plantlets  of  Cymbidium  orchids through backbulbs.
2. Training   on   commercial   cultivation   and   post- harvest technology of orchids.
3. Training  –cum  –awareness  program  on  PPV  & FRA.