1. Indonesia

1. Indonesia
Ismiyati Sutarto1, Suskandari Kartikaningrum2 and Yulidar1
1Center for Application of Isotope and Radiation Technology,
National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN)
2

Indonesian Ornamental Crop Research Institute,

Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD)

Introduction
In Indonesia, demand for orchid cut flower is increasing due to the growth of population andtheir income. According to Soeroyo (1992), the world consumption value for orchid cut
flowers was US $ 1.935 billion, if Indonesia could contribute 2.5 %, it needs the availabilityof 129.43 million flower stalk for export quality. Whilst for those of 5 % for export quality, itneeds 32,357,500 plants (supposed each plant produced 8 flower stalk). Orchid industry needs
the support from science and technology based on the use of optimal natural resources.
Development of technology in culturing orchids is an opportunity to create desirable
characters of the flowers such as bright colour, beautiful shape and longer vase life.

Dendrobium is the most popular orchids in Indonesia (Figure 1) followed by Catleya, Vandaand Phalaenopsis. Recently Dendrobium is mostly grown in Java and Bali islands. Bothsexual and asexual propagation are common for multiplication of Dendrobium. Orchid
consumers in Indonesia tend to prefer the new type. Micropropagation in orchid is very
common since the demand for potted plants and cut flowers increased.

Figure 1. Dendrobium Jayakarta for cut flowers is widely grown in Indonesia-1-Breeding of the genus Dendrobium has been gaining sufficient appreciation and development
in Southeast Asia as the most popular source of tropical cut flowers. A large number ofdifferent cultivars of distinct colours and shapes of this species have been created and grown
exclusively in farms in this area. Commercial plants produce cut flowers and cooled
inflorescences are exported throughout Europe and Japan.

The fact that orchids are, in terms of their development, a very young family of plants andtheir genetic instability. Therefore they tend to form mutation by means deviations. Usually
the frequency of mutation was very low and lack of desirable traits. In the wild, thesedeviations are suppressed and gradually disappear. Orchid growers are able to stabilize themby further appropriate hybridisation and maintain the desirable traits such as colour and sizeof the flower (Jezek, 2003).

Sutater (1997) reported that exported orchid flower from Indonesia decreased from US $ 2,1million (1993) to US $ 1.41 million (1995), whereas imported orchid flower increased from
US $ 28,831 (1994) to US $ 312,767 (1995). Based on the data mentioned above, it seems
that the demand was higher than the supply. Therefore, the opportunity for growing orchid inIndonesia is very promising.

Demand of orchid especially Dendrobium is increasing because of its unique, beauty, frequent
flowering, longevity and easier to be cultivated. These characters are leading compared withother orchids. Dendrobium could be used as indoor and outdoor potted plants, cut flowers orcorsages. However, Dendrobium is very susceptible to pets and diseases. Flower damage
caused by Thrips is one of the obstacles faced by orchid growers.

An effort to solve this problem had been initiated in FNCA Mutation Breeding ProjectWorkshop held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 30 August – 3 September 2004 (Hutabarat etal, 2004 and Piluek, 2004). The Orchid Group agreed to use Dendrobium Sonia ‘BOM 17Red’, a leading variety from Thailand as the main material, Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ is a
popular hybrid, fast growing, floriferous, bright colour and has long vase life.

In FNCA Mutation Breeding Project Workshop held in Bangkok from 5 - 9, September 2005,
the Orchid Group decided to irradiate different growing stages of young seedlings or shoots,
plantlets and PLBs of local variety from each country, such as Dendrobium Jayakarta from-2-

Indonesia should be irradiated in order to obtain the optimum dose for Dendrobium sp. fromdifferent member countries.

The most severe damage caused by irradiation was showed by PLBs compared with plantlets
and shoots. Three months after irradiation, survival rates from the dose 1,280 Gy up to thedose 40 Gy of irradiated PLBs, plantlets and shoots were 0 - 50 %, 0 - 78 % and 60 - 95 %respectively. Survival rate of untreated PLBs, plantlets and shoots remained 100 % after threemonths irradiation. Explants of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ cultured in VW enriched withBAP was not able to form roots, whilst those enriched with coconut water and active charcoal
could form 2.2 - 4.7 roots (Sutarto et al 2006).

Materials and methods
Irradiated PLBs of Den. Jayakarta cultured in VW medium were regenerated to form
plantlets and each plantlet was planted in a single jar. While irradiated plantlets formerlygrown in community pots had been transferred to single pots. Irradiated potted plants started
blooming were grown under lath house. Potted plants were grown in the lath house andfertilized every week by applying 0.2 % liquid fertilizer.

Irradiated explants of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ grown at CAIRT were cultured by applying
modified VW medium enriched with coconut water (15 %), charcoal (0.1 %) and BAP (1ppm). Whereas those grown at IOCRI were cultured in VW medium. The last accession ofDen. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ was Ac 10 + 50 +50 (Acute irradiation 10 Gy + chronic irradiation
50 + 50 Gy) and Ac 20 + 50 +50 (acute irradiation 20 Gy + chronic irradiation 50 + 50 Gy).

The use of different modified Vacin and Went (VW) media such as application of coconut
water, active charcoal and Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) was also carried out to improve thegrowth and propagation of irradiated plantlet of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ and Den.
Jayakarta.

Application coconut water (Widyastoeti and Syafril, 1993) and active charcoal (Widyastoetyand Bahar, 1995) could stimulate the growth of Dendrobium plantlets. Kano and Fukuoka(1996) reported that coconut water contained complex organic materials such as plant growth
regulators that promoted plant growth.

-3-Mass rearing Thrips was done at Entomology Laboratory of IOCRI by placing mature Thrips
into the flask with pumpkin inside (Figure 2), and let the Thrips lay eggs and multiply its
population, 25 - 30 days later mature Thrips were put on the flower of Spathoglottis sp(Figure 3) in order to see how the Thrips attack the flower since irradiated Dendrobium had
not bloomed yet. When the plants started blooming, insect tolerance trial will be conducted invivo in the green house.

Figure 2. Thrips were put in the flask with the pumpkin inside

(a)

(b)

Figure 3. a. Mature Thrips were placed on the flower of Spathoglottis sp.,b.Thrips attacked the flower of Spathoglottis sp.

The parameter observed were number of shoots per plant, number of leaves per shoots, plantheight, number of plantlet or plant per pot and number of potted plants. The data were taken
12 months after irradiation.

Results
After 12 months irradiation, PLBs of Dendrobium Jayakarta grew to form plantlets. The
highest number of plantlets and number of shoots per plant were found from untreated PLBs
followed by irradiated PLBs at the doses of 40 and 80 Gy. In contrast the highest number ofleaves per shoot was obtained from irradiated PLBs at dose 80 Gy followed by irradiated-4-PLBs at the dose 40 Gy and untreated PLBs, while the highest plant was showed by untreated
PLBs followed by irradiated PLBs at the doses 80 and 40 Gy (Table 1 and Figure 4).

Irradiated plantlets of Dendrobium Jayakarta grown in the lath house showed better tolerance
to gamma rays than irradiated PLBs. Plantlets were able to grow well up to the dose 160 Gy(Table 2 and Figure 5), whereas irradiated young plants could only grow at the dose 40 Gy(Table 3 and Figure 6).

Untreated80 Gy

40 Gy

Figure 4. Untreated (0 Gy) and irradiated PLBs of Den. Jayakarta
at the doses 40 and 80 Gy (12 months after culturing)

The most plantlets and clusters of PLBs formed were obtained from irradiated plantlets ofDen. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ at the dose 70 Gy. PLBs was not found from those at the dose 30
Gy and untreated plantlets (Table 4 and Figure 7). Abnormalities were found in irradiated
PLBs of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ (Figure 8).

Acute irradiation 10 Gy followed by chronic radiation 50 + 50 Gy indicated better number ofplants and leaflets, whereas acute irradiation 20 Gy followed by chronic radiation 50 + 50 Gy
indicated higher number of shoots per plants and plant height (Table 5 and Figure 9).

Irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ at the dose of 90 Gy grown in the lath houseof IOCRI for acclimatization showed better performance compared to those at the dose 80 Gy(Table 6)-5-Untreated

160 Gy

80 Gy

40 Gy

Figure 5. Untreated (0 Gy) and irradiated plantlets of Den. JayakartaCompared to those after 3 and 6 months irradiation, all the parameter observed such as
survival rate, number of shoots per plant, number of leaves per shoot and plant height onirradiated PLBs of Den. Jayakarta were gradually decreased as the doses of gamma rays
increased. After 3 months irradiated plantlets were able to grow up to the dose 640 Gy
although the survival rate was only 39 %. Irradiated young plants grew well until 3 and 6
months after irradiation up to the dose of 1,240 Gy (Sutarto et al, 2006).

According to Broertjes and Van Harten (1988) the optimum dose for orchids varies fromapproximately 10 to 40 Gy. However, in view of the great number of very different generaand species, and of the material to be irradiated, the optimum dose should be determined inevery case before starting a mutation breeding program.

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40 GyUntreated

Figure 6. Untreated (0 Gy) and irradiated shoot of Den. Jayakarta (12 months after planting)

Table 1. Growth of irradiated PLBs of Den. Jayakarta (12 months after irradiation)
cultured in jars at growth room of CAIRT
Dose of Gamma

Number of

Number of

Number ofrays (Gy)plantletsshoots/plantlet

leaves/shoot

063

2.97

4.67

5.95

40

38

2.69

6.05

4.62

80

32.67

6.97

4.75

Plantlet height (cm)

Table 2. Irradiated plantlets of Den. Jayakarta grown in the lath house of CAIRT (12months after irradiation)
Dose of

NumberGammaofrays (Gy)plants

026

3.54

2.46

5.39

1.50

14.30

40

16

2.69

2.26

4.23

1.23

8.89

80

20

3.00

2.50

6.38

1.83

13.92

160

6

3.17

2.50

5.20

1.40

13.90

Number ofNumber ofshoots/plantleaves/shootLengthof leaf

Width ofleaf (cm)

(cm)

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Plant
height(cm)Table 3. Irradiated shoots (young plants) of Den. Jayakarta grown in the lath house of
CAIRT (12 months after irradiation)
Dose of

NumberGammaofrays (Gy)plants040

LengthWidthof leafof leaf(cm)

(cm)

4.11

10.38

2.99

51.96

3.32

6.17

2.81

35.50

Number of

Number ofshoots/plantleaves/shoot124.33

95.33

Plant
height (cm)

Table 4. Growth of irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ cultured inmodified VW medium with coconut water and active charcoal (CAIRT)
Dose of Gamma rays (Gy)Parameters
0307080

Number of plantlets

151277

5

Number of shoots/plantlet

2.00

1.58

2.43

1.80

Plantlet height (cm)

2.05

5.00

2.64

1.96

Number of leaflets (avrg)

2.75

3.11

3.86

2.61

Number of PLBs (clusters)

00132

Untreated

30 Gy

70 Gy

80 Gy

Figure 7. Untreated (0 Gy) and irradiated PLBs of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’-8-Table 5. Growth of irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ grown at the lathhouse for acclimatization (CAIRT)
Dose of Gamma rays (Gy)Parameters

Ac 10 + Chr (50 + 50)

Ac 20 + Chr (50 + 50)

Number of plants

2724

Number of shoots/plants

4.59

5.33

Plantlet height (cm) (avrg)

1.38

2.28

Number of leaflets (avrg)

2.17

1.13

70 Gy

70 Gy

Figure 8. Abnormality found in irradiated PLBs of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’Figure 9. Acute and chronic irradiation of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’
Left (acute 10 Gy + chronic 50 + 50 Gy), Right (acute 20 Gy + chronic 50 + 50 Gy)

Table 6. Irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ grown in the lath house of
IOCRI for acclimatization.
Dose of

NumberGammaofrays (Gy)plants80
90

LengthWidthPlantof leafof leaf

height

(cm)

(cm)

(cm)

2.22

3.12

0.53

4.29

3.61

4.33

1.60

8.72

Number of

Number ofshoots/plantleaves/shoot

27

1.21

44

2.48

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Figure 10. Irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ grown in the lath house of IOCRI(12 months after irradiation)

Conclusion
The results of this observation can be concluded that PLBs and young shoots of Den.
Jayakarta were very sensitive to gamma rays. The optimum dose for PLBs and plantlets ofDen. Jayakarta was 40 Gy since there was no PLBs and young shoots could grow at the doses
more than 40 Gy after 12 months of irradiation. Mass rearing Thrips can be done by using
pumpkin as artificial feeding. The most plantlets and clusters of PLBs formed were obtained
from irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ at the dose 70 Gy. PLBs was not foundfrom those at the dose 30 Gy and untreated plantlets. Irradiated plantlets of Den. Sonia ‘BOM
17 Red’ at the dose of 90 Gy grown in the lath house of IOCRI for acclimatization showed
better performance compared to those at the dose 80 Gy

References
Broertjes, C. and A. M. van Harten. 1988. Applied mutation breeding for vegetatively
propagated crops. Elsevier. Amsterdam. 345 p.

Hutabarat, D., L. Harsanti and Aryanti. 2004. Effects of gamma rays on protocorm like bodiesof three hybrids and one species of Dendrobium. FNCA Mutation Breeding ProjectWorkshop. Reproductive Pattern in Clonally Propagated Plants. Yogyakarta, 30August - 3 September 2004.

Jezek, Z. 2003. The complete cyclopedia of orchids. Rebo Publishers. Prague.304 p.

- 10 -Piluek, C. 2004. Study on radiation dose for insect resistant of cutflower orchids. FNCA
Mutation Breeding Workshop. Reproductive Pattern in Clonally Propagated Plants.
Yogyakarta, 30 August - 3 September 2004

Soeroyo, R. 1992. Chances for growing orchids and ornamental plants. Orchid Exhibition.
Indonesian Orchid Society. Surabaya. Indonesia

Sutarto, I., I. Dwimahyani, S. Kartikaningrum and Yulidar. 2006. Oservation of irradiation
doses on Den. Jayakarta and plantlet growth of Den. Sonia ‘BOM 17 Red’ in different
modified media for insect tolerance. FNCA 2006 MBWS. Takasaki Japan. 11 - 16
September 2006. 9p
Sutater, T. 1997. Developing cultural practices of orchids for industrial scale. Bull.
Indonesian Orchid Society . 5 (9) : 18 – 23

Widyastoety, D. and Syafril. 1993. The effect of coocnut water on the growth of PLBs ofDendrobium orchids. Ind. Bull for Ornamental Plant Research. 1 (1) : 7 –12

Widyastoety, D. and Bahar. 1995. The effect of different carbihydrat source on the growth ofplantlets of Dendrobium orchids. Ind. J. Hort. 5 (3) : 76 – 80

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