Hassan Kia Heirati - M.S. Student, Department of Horticulture, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran
Rasoul Onsinejad - Assistant Professor of Department of Horticulture, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht,
Fattaneh Yari - Department of Horticultural Science, Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University,Khozestan, Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Iran

The germination power of orchids (Orchidaceae family) seems to be too weak due lack of albumen. The study carried out with various treatments including pollination time and GA3 for breaking dormancy and increasing seed germination of orchids. The effect of pollination time (8 periods from January to August) and gibberellic acid (0, 500, 1000 and1500 mg L-1) were studied on germination of Phalaenopsis orchids. Capsules containing seeds with 2, 4, 8 and 10% hypochlorite sodium were disinfected. In order to grow seedlings the culture medium of cocopeat and coal with the ratio of 1:5, and cocopeat, coal, industrialshell, and polystyrene with the ratio of 1:1:2:4 was used. Results indicated that the most appropriate concentration of sodium hypochlorite in order to disinfect the capsules was 2%. The best month for pollination of flowers was January. The highest yield from one capsuleobtained 15.3 seedlings in the medium of containing 1000 mg L-1 gibberellic acid. The produced seedlings were transferred to greenhouse in order to hardening. The highest rate of viability was obtained through the medium of cocopeat, coal, industrial shell, and polystyrene particles.

Culture medium, Orchidaceae species, Seed treatment, Viability