Iranian Research Team Optimizes Germination, Regeneration of Orchis Plant
“The Orchis family is one of the very large and diverse plant families among monocotyledons, and due to its anti-therapeutic properties, and it is used in the form of powder and herbal tea to treat diseases, and the onion of this plant is used as a seasoning in the food industry after drying and powdering,” Mitra Khademi, one of the Iranian researchers, told ANA on the sidelines of Asreh Omid Event in Tehran.
She explained that exorbitant harvesting, hard germination and destruction of habitats have endangered the important medicinal plant of Orchis.
A team of experts in the field of plant tissue culture at ‘Aria Gene Biotechnology’ company conducted a research to reduce the length of the growth period, break the seed’s sleep and increase the regeneration of Orchis in laboratory conditions, Khademi said, adding that the team decided to increase the growth of this plant by using different symbiotic fungi, growth-enhancing bacteria and preparing the appropriate protocol for its mass-production to prevent the risk of extinction of this plant in the next stages.
She noted that export of orchis plant which is a local plant of Iran will help the country's economic growth.
Salep, also spelled sahlep or sahlab, is a flour made from the tubers of the orchid genus Orchis (including species Orchis mascula and Orchis militaris). These tubers contain a nutritious, starchy polysaccharide called glucomannan. Salep flour is consumed in beverages and desserts.
Islamic Azad University's "second step of revolution" under the title of Asreh Omid Event was held in Tehran's Mosalla from May 29 to June 01, 2022 to exhibit new achievements, equipment and products in the technological and innovation arenas in line with opening new windows towards strengthening the idea of creating ground for knowledge-based businesses at the 40th anniversary of establishment of the Islamic Azad University.
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