Biotechnology of Orchids and Other Ornamentals

Advancement of plant tissue culture, or micropropagation, breeding, genetics and genomics have contributed to mass production of propagules, creating novel hybrids or cultivars, as well as modern tools for improving the molecular breeding efficiency of important crop plants, including ornamentals. This book covers these areas in relation to ornamental plants to fulfil the needs of students and researchers, in addition to commercial vendors. Ornamental biotechnology enables the mass production of young plants, including seed-derived seedlings, and tissue-culture-derived propagules, or mericloned plants. Two chapters are focused on flower industry development and tissue culture business in both Taiwan and Thailand as each produces a large quantity of tropical and subtropical ornamentals, both pot plants and cut flowers, as well as having a strong micropropagation industry to support the floriculture business worldwide. Work in the emerging markets of Latin America is also covered. Breeding and micropropagation of economically important or novelty orchids are elaborated in several chapters, including Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis hybrids. Aroids and roses are also covered. Modern molecular tools such as genomics, molecular markers, gene editing and transformation can help in improving desirable traits and creating potential novel hybrids of ornamentals, and these are covered in detail.