(Unila): Desi Maulida successfully defended her dissertation, titled Natural Orchid Ex Situ Preservation Through Reintroduction Identification and In Vitro Culture and Commercial Orchid Hybridization, as part of the Doctor of Agricultural Sciences program at the Faculty of Agriculture (FP), Unila.
Desi presented and defended her dissertation before the examiners and promoters, taking place in the agricultural auditorium of the University of Lampung campus, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The finding of her study contributes to new knowledge of the morphology of orchid species from protected forest register 30 on Mount Tanggamus is one of these.
Desi also found out that specific tree stands or bark optimally promotes the growing medium for orchids. Desi was also successful in propagating numerous species of orchid seedlings as part of an ex situ conservation effort. The hybridization resulted in superior orchid varieties with high commercial value.
Desi described the significance of novelty and the breadth of her research results, beneficial to support the conservation of natural orchids in protected forest areas rich in germplasm, specifically protected forest areas register 30 of Mount Tanggamus, Lampung, and in other habitats in Indonesia in general.
She has also demonstrated that ex situ conservation of multiple orchid species through in vitro cultivation and reintroduction is believed to promote the commercial value of native Indonesian orchid species through interspecific and complex hybridization between multiple orchid species and commercial orchids with high economic value.
The study by Desi resulted in the identification of one hundred species of natural orchids from protected forest register 30 on Mount Tanggamus and Dendrobium orchids were identified as the most commonly cultivated orchids in the community.
Desi found no incompatibility barriers when crossing Dendrobium orchids and this crossing method is also effective to be applied to other species of orchids. Foliar fertilizer media have been demonstrated to stimulate the germination of Dendrobium hybrid seeds more effectively than other media.
She recommends the use of foliar fertilizer + trypton as a medium to promote healthy growth and development in Dendrobium hybrid seedlings, both in terms of growth and rooting characteristics. [PR Team]
