Standardisation of Pre Hardening and Hardening Techniques for In vitro Derived Plantlets of Orchid and Anthurium

In laboratory for Orchid subcultures pre hardening treatments with ½ MS media + NAA 8 mg/l as standard media and growing media compositions like Leaf mould + Charcoal (1:1), Leaf mould + Charcoal + Brick (1:1:1), Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1), Leaf mould + Brick + Coco peat (1:1:1) and Charcoal + Brick + Coco peat (1:1:1) as Control for prehardening and the same above growing media without sterilization had been practiced under shade net for hardening and in Anthurium laboratory treatments comprised of ½ MS media + NAA 2 mg/l as standard media and growing media compositions like Leaf mould + Saw dust (1:1),Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1), Leaf mould + Coir pith (1:1),Leaf mould + Coir pith + Coco peat (1:1:1),Saw dust + Coir pith + Coco peat (1:1:1), Leaf mould + Coco peat (1:1) as Control for prehardening and the same above growing media without sterilization had been practiced under shade net for hardening Maximum survival percentage was observed in T2 (Leaf mould + Charcoal + Brick (1:1:1) and Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1) both in Orchid and Anthurium respectively. The number of leaves were highest in T5 (5.81 and 26.03) and number of roots i.e., 10.77 and 23.9 / plant were higher in medium containing Charcoal + Brick + Coco peat (1:1:1) i.e., as control. The root and shoot length were recorded higher in T2 (Leaf mould + Charcoal + Brick (1:1:1)) as 6.11 cm and 16.77 cm and 4.48 cm and 20.47 cm in laboratory and in shade net respectively. The survival percent was enhanced in T2 as 92.43% and 91.53% in laboratory and field. Higher no. of leaves and plant height were observed in T2 (Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1)) followed by T6 (Leaf mould + Coco peat (1:1)) [Control].The plantlets in T2 established well in terms of plant height in laboratory and in shade net (6.17 cm and 31.4 cm) and number of new shootlets (Plantlet (2.67 and 7.67)). The number of leaves were highest in T2 (12.33 and 20.67) and number of roots i.e., 3.33 and 8.33 / plant were higher in medium containing Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1) followed by control i.e., T6 (Leaf mould + Coco peat (1:1)).The root length was also recorded higher in T2 (Leaf mould + Coco peat + Charcoal (1:1:1)) as 4.3 cm and 15.67 cm (Table 13) in laboratory and in shade net respectively.