MSc

The investigation on the evaluation of Vanda orchids was conducted at the
Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara,
during 2013-‘14 with the objective of evaluating the field performance for
commercial exploitation.
Thirty Vanda varieties/ hybrids were selected for the study. They were
evaluated for their height, spread, shoot characters (nature, girth, internodal length),
leaf characters (length, breadth, area, number, interval of leaf production, leaf sheath
characters), root characters (length, girth, number), floral characters (days from spike
emergence to opening, longevity of spike, interval of spike production, annual
production of spike, blooming period, number of florets per spike, individual flower
life, flower size, features of petal, lip and column) under field conditions, as well as
post harvest parameters (spike longevity, number of buds opening in vase,
physiological loss in weight, water uptake and floret span).
The varieties exhibited wide variation in both vegetative and floral characters.
Maximum plant height was observed in V. Pompimol and the minimum in
V. Thailand Beauty. V. Kasem’s Delight x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob recorded the
maximum plant spread and V. Pachara Delight Pink the minimum. Shoot girth and
internodal length were the maximum in V. Taweesuksa x V. Kultana Gold x V. Green
Gold and V. Pakchong New Land x V. Annette Jones, respectively while the
minimum was recorded by V. Varuvathe Pink and V. Thailand Beauty, respectively.
Leaf number was maximum in V. Prapawan and the minimum in V. Apec Blue. Leaf
length as well as leaf area were the maximum in V. Pompimol, whereas the least
values for these characters were for V. Prapawan and V. Anek Delight, respectively.
V. Lumpini Red x V. Taweewan recorded the maximum leaf breadth and V. Fuchs
Delight, the minimum. Interval of leaf production was the maximum in V. Katsuura x
V. Fuchs Delight and the least in V. Lumpini Red x V. Taweewan.
Among the vanda varieties, V. Apec Blue recorded, the maximum number of
roots whereas V. Anek Delight and V. Lumpini Red x V. Taweewan had maximum
root length and girth, respectively and the minimum was in V. Varuvathe Pink,
V. Urbchitr x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob and V. Dr Anek x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob,
respectively.
The duration from spike emergence to opening of florets was the maximum in
V. Urbchitr x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob. Time required for opening florets (first and 50%)
was the least for V. Apec Blue and V. Anek Delight, respectively. Spike longevity
was the maximum for V. Madame Rattana and the minimum for V. Anek Delight.
Interval of spike production was the maximum in V. Pompimol and the minimum in
V. Pranermprai x V. tessellata. Accordingly, annual spike production was the
minimum in V. Pompimol and it was the highest in V. Pathum Gold.
Spike characters, like length was maximum in V. Kultana Delight Red, while
girth in V. Urbchitr x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob .The rachis length and number of florets
were the maximum in V. Thailand Beauty and the minimum in V. Varuvathe Pink.
The internodal length between florets was the maximum in V. Prapawan and the
minimum in V. Red Gem. Lip length and flower size recorded the highest values in
V. Pompimol whereas column length was the highest in V. Dr Anek x V. Mimi
Palmer. All these characters were the lowest in V. Red Gem. The life of individual
floret on the spike was the maximum for V. Katsuura x V. Fuchs Delight and the
minimum in V. Pakchong New Land x V. Annette Jones.
Among the post harvest characters, spike longevity (vase life) was the
maximum in V. Katsuura x V. Fuchs Delight followed by V. Thailand Beauty and the
minimum in V. Lumpini Red x V. Taweewan. The life span of each floret was also
high in V. Katsuura x V. Fuchs Delight.
The qualitative characters of vanda varieties/hybrids differed in all aspects.
The leaves were channelled, smooth, rigid and green coloured, with no pigmentation.
Three types of leaf apex, viz., tridentate, praemorse and emarginate were observed.
The leaves were arranged alternately and were oriented as straight or horizontal with
an arching tendency. Varying petal shapes and curvatures were observed. The petal
margin was undulated in most of the cases and rarely entire. Uniform, spotted as well
as blotched colour patterns were seen in the petals. Lip-lobe shapes and lip curvature
were varying in the varieties. Lip apex was bilobed in most cases; acute or truncate
apices were also noticed. Lip surface was glabrous, usually single or double coloured
whereas it was triple coloured in V. Pathum Gold and V. Robert’s Delight. Lip colour
pattern was uniform or streaked or spotted. The column colour pattern was uniform,
streaked, blotched or spotted. Spur type was found to be cylindrical in most varieties
and saccate in some. The variety V. Pranermprai x V. tessellata possessed good
fragrance.
Considering the overall quantitative and qualitative parameters, V. Pathum
Gold, V. Lumpini Red x V. Taweewan, V. Pachara Delight Pink, V. Apec Blue,
V. Prapawan, V. Urbchitr x V. Bitz’s Heartthrob and V. Thailand Beauty were
excellent, both for cut flower production and as pot plants. V. Pranermprai x
V. tessellata and V. Katsuura x V. Fuchs Delight have more potential for use as cut
flower whereas V. Red Gem and V. Anek Delight were excellent as pot plants.