Micropropagation, decontamination, transcontinental shipping and hydroponic growth of Cattleya while sealed in semipermeable membrane vessels

Two varieties of Cattleya orchids ( Cattleya loddigessi `Elen'× C. loddigessi Alba `Extra' and Brassolaeliocattleya. Mem. `Helen Brown' Sweet Afton) were micropropagated in sealed, 3-dimensional polypropylene vessels with microporous, semipermeable membrane films. Plantlets in these vessels were grown in vitro and shipped, including post-storage recovery in a hydroponic system. During tissue culture on sugar-containing media, chance contaminants were eliminated on the vessels' outer surface. Decontamination did not affect biomass, carbohydrate content or subsequent growth of tissues contained within the vessels. Plantlets were shipped from Japan to the United States and arrived without changes in fresh or dry weight of whole plantlets, however, shoot dry weight increased significantly. Sucrose, glucose and fructose reserves established on sugar containing media were utilized during shipping while shoot dry weight increased. Plantlets grew photoautotrophically in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse in the same sealed-membrane vessels. Carbohydrate concentration of plantlets following hydroponic culture was not significantly different than levels after the shipping process. Sealed-membrane vessels for micropropagation, decontamination, shipping and greenhouse growth were useful for culture of Cattleya and facilitate scale-up of materials handling and international commerce of tissue-cultured plants.