Fusarium proliferatum culture filtrate sensitivity of Dendrobium sonia-28’s PLBs derived regenerated plantlets

Aims: Dendrobium sonia-28 is an important orchid in the Malaysian flower industry and currently facing serious production problems due fungal diseases. To overcome this impediment, one of the strategies being pursued is by the production of new orchid mutants. In this prospect, the present study was aimed to determine effects of Fusarium proliferatum culture filtrate on the potential of producing somaclonal variants Dendrobium sonia-28 plants tolerance to F. proliferatum disease infection. Methodology and results: Here, we assessed Fusarium proliferatum pathogenicity on the survival and fresh weight responses of Dendrobium sonia-28 PLBs using culture filtrate. PLBs death increased at the highest concentrations and resulted in reduced weight among survivors. There were appreciable variations in plantlet structure and morphology relative to increase fungal filtrate concentration. Plantlets infected with lower concentrations of the fungus had better development of the shoot and root as well as the foliage. Histology and SEM analysis disclosed severe cell wall damage and stomatal closure in protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) infected with the higher fungal filtrate concentrations. Conclusion, significance and impact study: As well as giving insights into the clonal reproduction of F. proliferatum, these results emphasizes the significance of somaclonal variation plants production based on low fungal infection tolerance in floriculture technology. Hence, the ability of the Dendrobium sonia-28 to survive after F. proliferatum infection opens new avenues for resistance gene discovery and future development of fungus resistant transgenic orchids.