Sub-Project on Insect Resistance in Orchid

Working Period : 2003 - 2009 (Terminated)
Participating Countries : Indonesia ( - 2008), Malaysia, Thailand( - 2008)

Orchid is well known plant for ornamental and cut flower. It is cultivated on a large scale especially in south-eastern Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Orchid is in great demand in their domestic markets and it is also essential export item for them to obtain foreign currency.

Thrips

Insect pest is serious problem for cultivation of orchid and especially thrips feed on the petal and give a big damage to reduce the commercial value.

"Sub-Project on Insect Resistance in Orchid" was started in 2003, with the participation of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The aim was to develop new variety with resistance to insect pest. (Memorandum of Program Formulation Meeting for "Insect Resistance in Orchid" (China, 2002))

Insect resistant orchid developed in Malaysia Left : Improved variety, Right : Parent variety

At the workshop in the Philippines 2003, breeding materials were exchanged among these participating countries. Expert meetings were held separately from workshops to have more active discussions. Malaysia had continued the study with the support from other country since 2008, and they obtained promising mutant lines with resistance to insects by ion beam irradiation. The activity was terminated successfully in 2009. These mutant lines will be registered and disseminated in Malaysia.

Exchange of breeding material (The Philippines, 2003)

Furthermore, the outcome of research activity, "Achievement of Sub-Project on Insect resistance in Orchid", was published in March 2010. ("Achievement of Sub-Project on Insect resistance in Orchid")