Study on the sowing and planting characteristics of Dendrobium devonianum Paxt. seeds sown directly on tree trunks in native habitats

Seed germination and growth are critical for orchid conservation and sustainable utilization, yet most orchid seeds are tiny and lack an endosperm and suitable nutrition. Based on previous experience, two experimental sowing methods(sowing with diluted cow-dung+seed and rice-water+seed) for Dendrobium devonianum Paxt. were applied successively to sow on the trunks of different tree species in the field. The seedlings were monitored and recorded for four years. Results showed that many seeds germinated and developed into seedlings. The seedlings grew slowly in the first year and had short stems, with three to five years required to reach the flowering stage. Growth and fruiting varied greatly on the different tree trunks, with the highest fruiting set rate of 24.86% recorded from plants on the trunks of Pyrus×michaux. Our study suggested that D. devonianum could be sown directly on trunks in native habitats. Based on our results and the large number of seeds per fruit, this method could be applied as a potential new strategy for commercial cultivation and for conservation in the field.