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Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding

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A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Floriculture, Nursery and Landscape, and Turf".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 6092

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Prof. Dr. Donghui Peng

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Orchid Conservation and Utilization at College of Landscape Architecture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: orchid breeding; cultivation; propagation

Dr. Yunxiao Guan

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Guest Editor

Prof. Dr. Siren Lan

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Guest Editor

College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: germplasm innovation; developmental biology of important characteristics of ornamental plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Studies in the propagation, cultivation, and breeding of orchids are pivotal for advancing scientific endeavors. ‘Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation, and Breeding’ is a Special Issue dedicated to the latest research in the field of orchid propagation, cultivation, and breeding. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge studies on the diverse techniques and advancements in orchid husbandry, from traditional methods to modern biotechnological approaches. This Special Issue covers the collection, preservation, and evaluation of orchid resources, summarizing the research achievements of modern breeding techniques in orchid genomics, functional gene mining, molecular regulatory mechanisms of important traits, and new variety breeding. At the same time, it also explores the research progress in industrialization technologies such as seedling propagation, facility cultivation, flowering control, pest and disease prevention, and the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying orchid–mycorrhizal symbiosis and endophytic fungi.

This Special Issue is a valuable resource for students, educators, and professionals in agriculture and related fields, and we look forward to receiving submissions on these topics.

Prof. Dr. Donghui Peng
Dr. Yunxiao Guan
Prof. Dr. Siren Lan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

orchid plants
floral biology
tissue culture
cultivation
organ morphological and chemical characterizations
physiology
plant–mycorrhizal symbiosis
endophytic fungi

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 7517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Plastomes of Anthogonium gracile and Eleorchis japonica (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)

by Xuyong Gao, Yuming Chen, Xiaowei Xu, Hongjiang Chen, Bingcong Xing, Jianli Pan, Minghe Li and Zhuang Zhou

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060698 - 17 Jun 2025

Viewed by 938

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships within the subtribe Arethusinae (Arethuseae: Epidendroideae: Orchidaceae) remain unresolved, with particular uncertainty surrounding the phylogenetic positions of Anthogonium gracile and Eleorchis japonica. The monophyly of this subtribe remains contentious, making it one of the challenging taxa in Orchidaceae phylogenetics. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete plastome sequences of A. gracile and E. japonica for the first time, aiming to elucidate their plastome characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. Both plastomes exhibited a conserved quadripartite structure, with 158,358 bp in A. gracile and 152,432 bp in E. japonica, and GC contents of 37.1% and 37.3%, respectively. Comparative analyses revealed strong structural conservation, but notable gene losses: E. japonica lacked seven ndh genes (ndhC/D/F/G/H/I/K), whereas A. gracile retained a complete ndh gene set. Repetitive sequence analysis identified an abundance of simple sequence repeats (68 and 77), tandem repeats (43 and 30), and long repeats (35 and 40). Codon usage displayed a bias toward the A/U termination, with leucine and isoleucine being the most frequent. Selection pressure analysis indicated that 68 protein-coding genes underwent purifying selection (Ka/Ks < 1), suggesting evolutionary conservation of plastome protein-coding genes. Nucleotide diversity analysis highlighted six hypervariable regions (rps8-rpl14, rps16-trnQ^UUG, psbB-psbT, trnT^UGU-trnL^UAA, trnF^GAA-ndhJ, and ycf1), suggesting their potential as molecular markers. Phylogenomic reconstruction, using complete plastome sequences, (ML, MP, and BI) indicated that Arethusinae was non-monophyletic. A. gracile formed a sister relationship with Mengzia foliosa and E. japonica, whereas Arundina graminifolia exhibited a sister relationship with Coelogyninae members. These results shed new light on the plastome characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of Arethusinae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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15 pages, 3937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of SNP and SSR Markers from Cymbidium goeringii and C. faberi for Their Potential Application in Breeding

by Mengya Cheng, Yingqi Liu, Chentai Jin, Xiao Jiang, Xiuming Chen, Fei Wang, Yanru Duan, Xiaokang Zhuo and Donghui Peng

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060622 - 1 Jun 2025

Viewed by 616

Abstract

Chinese Cymbidium are prized for their ornamental beauty, ecological significance, and economic value. However, genomic resources crucial for breeding studies within this genus remain scarce, which has hindered the identification of key genes controlling economically important traits and posed challenges for conservation efforts. We performed a comprehensive identification of whole-genome simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using the restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) on C. goeringii and C. faberi. A total of 49,640 SSR loci were identified across both species, with an average density of 12.7 SSRs/Mb. Among these, 17,637 SSRs were common to both C. goeringii and C. faber, while 17,676 and 14,329 SSRs were uniquely identified in C. goeringii and C. faberi, respectively. Additionally, we identified 405,416 SNPs and 26,870 InDels, with average densities of 105.2/Mb and 6.5/Mb. Furthermore, we validated two SSRs (located at Chr01:78857480-78860461 and Chr01:93382182-93384869) and developed an efficient method for identifying hybrids among the progeny resulting from crosses between C. goeringii and C. faberi. We also validated two SNP markers that showed a close association with the petal and lip length using Sanger sequencing. Our findings revealed that the Chr01_99657375 SNP achieved 73% predictive accuracy for identifying long-petal/lip phenotypes. The results are expected to greatly benefit marker-assisted breeding efforts in Cymbidium orchids and lay a solid foundation for the molecular breeding process of improving flower shape traits in orchid plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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13 pages, 6174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Pollen–Stigma Coordination in Dendrobium Hybridization: A Strategy to Maximize Fruit Set and Hybrid Seed Viability

by Qian Wu, Yanbing Qian, Ao Guan, Yan Yue, Zongyan Li, Bruce Dunn, Jianwei Yang, Shuangshuang Yi, Yi Liao and Junmei Yin

Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050544 - 17 May 2025

Viewed by 507

Abstract

This study investigated dynamic pollen–stigma coordination to optimize interspecific hybridization in Dendrobium using D. ‘Burana Jade’ as the maternal parent and eight wild species as pollen donors. Stigma receptivity was comprehensively evaluated using a multi-indicator approach, including morphological characterization (crystal secretion and bulging papillae), histochemical benzidine-H₂O₂ staining, and enzymatic activity profiling (esterase and superoxide dismutase). Concurrently, pollen viability was assessed through TTC testing coupled with ultrastructural observations. Results identified a critical synchronization window: pollen viability peaked at 1–3 days post anthesis (DPA) or during the mid-anthesis phase, while stigmas exhibited maximal receptivity when secretory activity and antioxidant enzyme levels significantly increased. Using stage-specific pollination criteria, 8.4% of crosses (8/95) produced viable fruits, outperforming empirical methods by 2.8-fold. D. ‘Burana Jade’ showed cross-compatibility with four Dendrobium species (D. aphyllum, D. chrysotoxum, D. hercoglossum, D. thyrsiflorum), with D. thyrsiflorum hybrids achieving 54.81% embryogenesis and 22.38% germination. Three compatible combinations germinated successfully in vitro within 45–55 days on 1/4 MS medium supplemented with 20 g/L sucrose, 1 g/L tryptone, 180 mL/L coconut water, and 2.2 g/L Phytagel. Our findings establish that synchronizing pollen viability windows with stigma receptivity phases significantly enhances fruit set and hybrid seed viability, providing a phenology-driven strategy to overcome reproductive barriers in orchid breeding programs. This study provides key physiological criteria for Dendrobium hybridization, though their applicability to other orchids needs validation. Future multi-omics studies should explore cross-species compatibility mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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16 pages, 6211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plastomes of Seven Coelogyne s.l. (Arethuseae, Orchidaceae) Species: Comparative Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationships

by Songkun Lin, Ruyi Li, Shuling Tang, Yuming Chen, Yin Yan, Xuyong Gao and Xiaokang Zhuo

Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020144 - 30 Jan 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 907

Abstract

The Coelogyne s.l. is one of the emblematic genera of the Asian orchids, with high horticultural and medicinal values. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus inferred from previous studies based on a limited number of DNA markers remain ambiguous. In this study, we newly sequenced and assembled the complete plastomes of seven Coelogyne species: C. bulleyia, C. fimbriata, C. flaccida, C. prolifera, C. tricallosa, C. uncata, and an unknown taxa, Coelogyne sp. The plastomes of Coelogyne exhibited a typical quadripartite structure, varying in length between 157,476 bp and 160,096 bp, accompanied by a GC content spanning from 37.3% to 37.5%. A total of 132 genes were annotated for each plastome, including 86 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 38 tRNA genes. Among these, 19 genes underwent duplication within the inverted repeat (IR) regions, and 18 genes exhibited the presence of introns. Additionally, we detected 54 to 69 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 30 to 49 long repeats. In terms of codon usage frequency, leucine (Leu) emerged with the highest frequency, while cysteine (Cys) exhibited the lowest occurrence. Furthermore, eight hypervariable regions (atpB-rbcL, psbK-psbI, rps8-rpl14, rps16-trnQ^UUG, psaC-ndhE, ndhF-rpl32, psbB-psbT, and ycf1) were identified. Phylogenetic analyses using complete plastomes and protein-coding genes indicated that Coelogyne s.l. was monophyletic. Moreover, the results robustly supported the division of Coelogyne s.l. into five clades. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the structural variation and phylogenetic analysis of the Coelogyne s.l. based on plastome data. The findings offer significant insights into the plastid genomic characteristics and the phylogenetic relationships of Coelogyne s.l., contributing to a deeper understanding of its evolutionary history. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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24 pages, 13711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of LBD Genes in Cymbidium ensifolium with Roles in Floral Development and Fragrance

by Yukun Peng, Suying Zhan, Feihong Tang, Yuqing Zhao, Haiyan Wu, Xiangwen Li, Ruiliu Huang, Qiuli Su, Long-Hai Zou, Kai Zhao, Zhong-Jian Liu and Yuzhen Zhou

Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020117 - 22 Jan 2025

Viewed by 967

Abstract

LBD transcription factors are critical regulators of plant growth and development. Recent studies highlighted their significant role in the transcriptional regulation of plant growth and metabolism. Thus, identifying the CeLBD gene in Cymbidium ensifolium, a species abundant in floral scent metabolites, could provide deeper insights into its functional significance. A total of 34 LBD genes were identified in C. ensifolium. These CeLBDs fell into two major groups: Class I and Class II. The Class I group contained 30 genes, while the Class II group included only 4 genes. Among the 30 Class I genes, several genes in the Ie branch exhibited structural variations or partial deletions (CeLBD20 and CeLBD21) in the coiled-coil motif (LX₆LX₃LX₆L). These changes may contribute to the difficulty in root hair formation in C. ensifolium. The variations may prevent normal transcription, leading to low or absent expression, which may explain the fleshy and corona-like root system of C. ensifolium without prominent lateral roots. The expansion for CeLBDs was largely due to special WGD events in orchids during evolution, or by segmental duplication and tandem duplication. CeLBDs in different branches exhibit similar functions and expression characteristics. Promoter analysis enriched environmental response elements, such as AP2/ERF, potentially mediating the specific expression of CeLBDs under different stresses. CeLBDs were predicted to interact with multiple transcription factors or ribosomal proteins, forming complex regulatory networks. CeLBD20 was localized in the cytoplasm, it may act as a signaling factor to activate other transcription factors. CeLBD6 in Class II was significantly up-regulated under cold, drought, and ABA treatments, suggesting its role in environmental responses. Furthermore, metabolic correlation analysis revealed that its expression was associated with the release of major aromatic compounds, such as MeJA. These findings offer valuable insights for further functional studies of CeLBD genes in C. ensifolium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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15 pages, 9573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Gene Family in Cymbidium Species and Functional Analysis of CsSODs Under Salt Stress in Cymbidium sinense

by Ruyi Li, Songkun Lin, Yin Yan, Yuming Chen, Linying Wang, Yuzhen Zhou, Shuling Tang and Ning Liu

Horticulturae 2025, 11(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11010095 - 16 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1138

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes are essential for reducing oxidative damage resulting from overabundant reactive oxygen species under abiotic stress. While the SOD gene family has been extensively studied in many species, research focusing on Cymbidium species remains limited. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the SOD gene family in three Cymbidium genomes was conducted. A total of 23 SOD genes were identified, with nine SODs in C. sinense, eight in C. ensifolium, and six in C. goeringii. These SOD genes were categorized into three clades: Cu/Zn-SOD, Fe-SOD, and Mn-SOD, with the Cu/Zn-SOD being the most abundant in these three types. This classification was supported by analyses of conserved domains, motifs, and phylogenetic relationships. Cis-element prediction showed that stress-responsive elements were identified in most SODs. Transcriptomic data revealed that seven CsSODs exhibited a border expression in all sequenced tissues, while two exhibited undetectable expression levels. Further qRT-PCR analysis showed that all CsSODs were upregulated under salt stress, with some exhibiting significant changes in expression. These findings all highlight the crucial role of CsSODs in the salt stress response and provide valuable insights for further breeding salt-tolerance varieties of C. sinense. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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Review

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22 pages, 2129 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in In Vitro Floral Induction in Tropical Orchids: Progress and Prospects in Vanilla Species

by Obdulia Baltazar-Bernal and José Luis Spinoso-Castillo

Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070829 - 12 Jul 2025

Viewed by 404

Abstract

Orchids and other flowering plants offer a wide range of floral traits. Within the Orchidaceae family, the Vanilla genus is one of the most valued plants in the commercial flavor industry. In vitro biotechnological approaches to Vanilla, such as germplasm conservation, massive propagation, and genetic engineering, have played a key role in breeding programs. There are, however, few studies that elucidate the physiological, molecular, and genetic aspects of vanilla orchid flowering and in vitro induction. This review’s main objective is to provide updated and complete data on in vitro floral induction and flowering of tropical and vanilla orchid species. A bibliographic search was carried out for scientific reports in academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect), and a total of 39 documents from 2014 and 2025 were analyzed. This review discusses the most important factors that affect in vitro flowering in Vanilla, including the monopodial genotypes, photoperiod, irradiance, temperature, nutrition, plant growth regulators, explant types, and culture methods. Consequently, this revision incorporates a number of studies on orchid in vitro flowering, with a focus on vanilla species. In conclusion, there still exists limited progress in Vanilla compared to other orchid species; however, the use of biotechnological techniques like in vitro flowering offers a fundamental framework for orchid breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orchids: Advances in Propagation, Cultivation and Breeding)

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