New Orchid Mutants of Export Potential

New orchid hybrids are continuously being released and commercially produced by leading orchid producing and exporting countries like Thailand and Taiwan. Mutant orchids either naturally occuring or induced are novelty products much sought after by importing countries like Japan, Holland, Australia and Germany. Malaysia has been out of the race in releasing new hybrids of orchids for the cut-flower industry in the last 10 years but perhaps, not any more.

Hexagon Green Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Malaysia Nuclear Agency are currently conducting pre-commercialization of four new mutant orchids developed by the latter with the aim of breaking into the cut-flower global market which is valued at USD 3 billion annually. The project entitled "Pre-Commercialization of Mutant Orchids for Cut-Flower Industry" received RM 1.3 mil grant under the Techno Fund (TF0110C033) managed by MARDI under Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry. The project proper commenced on 15 August 2011.

The introduction of a new hybrid orchid into a market typically warrants two stages that first needed to satisfied. Firstly, its production has to be technically and commercially feasible from the economic and cultural practice stand point and secondly, it has to be readily accepted by the consuming public. Currently, the mutant orchids are being mass-produced by Hexagon Green Sdn Bhd using tissue-cultured protocorms from Agency Nuclear Malaysia, at Makmal Flora Vitro, Nuclear Malaysia Technology Park, Bangi, Selangor. Sufficient quantities of the plantlets (5000 plantlets of each of the 4 mutants) are being produced and planted in Thumb-pots at Hexagon Green's nursery at Bukit Changgang Agrotechnology Park, Kuala Langat, Banting, Selangor.

After six-month hardening period, the plants are to be planted in the 1-Ac field under net-houses with 50% shade following standards operating procedures perfected by Hexago Green. Flowers thus produced will be evaluated and graded to comply with international standard specified by importing countries. Relevant post-harvest studies will be conducted together with market surveys, product shipment and plant health certification and quarantine requirements. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2013.

Prepared by
Dr. Md Yusof Husin (project leader)
Hexagon Green Sdn Bhd