Source: Ag Biotech Vietnam

Scientists of the Da Lat Biotechnology Sub-Institute have reported successful production of seeds, which promise to open a new era of production in Vietnam’s agriculture.
 
Normally seeds are collected during harvests season, but these new infertile seeds, which are created by the pollination process of trees.
 
The Da Lat Biotechnology Sub-Institute’s seeds were bred in a laboratory, where scientists have created fertile, single crop dia lan (an orchid variety) seeds. The idea to produce the seeds came three years ago, but it has taken until now for scientists at the Da Lat Biotechnology Sub-Institute to find success.
 
Dr Duong Tan Nhat from the sub-institute said, “To have attractive cakes, bakers have to mix ingredients and bring them to oven…but there is a lot of trial and error. Similarly, in a laboratory scientists have to perform different stages and finally produce seeds. The key point here is the seeds have high sprouting percentage, which deems it a success.”
 
The seeds also grow in a natural environment, not just in test-tubes. This is very meaningful as previously the seeds could only grow in carefully engineered environments.
 
When the seeds are successfully produced, they can be sold and cultivated at home. More importantly, such seeds save plants previously plundered from the woods. It is hoped that this move will contribute to preservation of rare and valuable plants.
 
Artificial dia lan seeds are just the first step. Once they can produce this kind of seed, they can find the
means to produce artificial seeds of other kinds of plants.