In vitro and biotechnological approaches in Dendrobium orchid breeding: a review
摘要
Dendrobium represents one of the largest and most economically important genera within the Orchidaceae, comprising more than 1500 species cultivated worldwide for ornamental purposes and utilized in traditional medicine. Conventional breeding and cultivation approaches in Dendrobium remain constrained by long breeding cycles, reproductive incompatibility, and limited precision in trait improvement. Recent studies therefore increasingly emphasize in vitro and biotechnological strategies as effective alternatives for coordinated enhancement of ornamental and medicinal attributes. Advances in in vitro based breeding and biotechnology enable accelerated cultivar development through ploidy manipulation, induced mutagenesis, genetic transformation, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Optimization of in vitro propagation and cultivation systems strengthens large-scale clonal production, cultivation stability, and biomass availability. Integration of in vitro platforms with phytochemical and multi-omics analyses reveals a diverse repertoire of secondary metabolites, including dendrobine, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and bibenzyl derivatives, which underpin a broad spectrum of bioactivities relevant to medicinal applications. Key challenges persist in transformation efficiency, molecular regulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and clinical validation of bioactivities. The integration of optimized in vitro systems with advanced biotechnological tools ultimately positions Dendrobium as a strategic platform for overcoming conventional limitations and enabling the development of high value ornamental cultivars alongside medicinal applications.