Regeneration of encapsulated protocorms of Phaius tankervilliae stored at low temperature.

Embryos (80 days old) developed after selfing P. tankervilliae were cultured on Nitsch medium for protocorm development. Protocorms (70 days old) thus developed were encapsulated with alginate matrix. Ninety six per cent of freshly prepared encapsulated protocorms differentiated into shoots and roots when cultured on Nitsch medium. Storage of encapsulated protocorms in sealed petri plates or by embedding in liquid paraffin at 4 degrees C showed no reduction in their regeneration frequency up to 120 days when cultured on Nitsch medium. However, 90% of encapsulated protocorms stored at room temperature in empty petri plates differentiated within 35-40 days. Regeneration frequency of encapsulated protocorms was drastically reduced when stored in liquid paraffin at room temperature.