Growth of in vitro Oncidesa plantlets cultured under cold cathode fluorescent lamps with super-elevated CO(2) enrichment

As interest in how to increase biomass production through biotechnological means gains traction, focus is turning towards the use of photoautotrophic micropropagation under elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) to maximize plant growth and productivity. The effect of super-elevated CO(2) with cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) on the photoautotrophic growth of Oncidesa in vitro has been studied using a gas-permeable film culture vessel, the ‘Vitron’. The growth of Oncidesa (formerly Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘U-1’) plantlets on Vacin and Went (VW) medium was stimulated by 10 000 μmol mol(−1) CO(2). In particular, increasing the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from 45 to 60 μmol m(−2) s(−1) under 10 000 μmol mol(−1) CO(2) in the growth chamber remarkably increased the number of leaves and roots, and shoot and root fresh and dry weights compared with plantlets under the same level of CO(2) under low PPFD (45 μmol m(−2) s(−1)). However, there was a remarkable decrease in photosynthetic capacity, and chlorosis and browning of leaves. In stark contrast, plantlets grown on Kyoto medium at 10 000 μmol mol(−1) CO(2) under high PPFD had a higher photosynthetic rate than plantlets grown on VW medium, and no chlorosis or browning was observed. Furthermore, shoot growth was remarkably enhanced. Therefore, super-elevated CO(2) (10 000 μmol mol(−1)) enrichment and growth under CCFLs can positively affect the efficiency and quality of commercial production of clonal Oncidesa plantlets.