Besides traits that favour commercialization such as long shelf-life and high productivity, orchids are highly attractive to horticulturists and hobbyists alike as ornamentals due to their diversity in characteristics such as shapes, colours, sizes and smells. Some orchids are also medicinal while others are used as spices and flavours. However, some orchids, especially those which are rare or endangered, possess special requirements at various stages of their life cycles which can be difficult to provide using conventional propagation methods. Plant tissue culture has emerged as a popular technique to propagate orchids for this reason.

In view of this, Quest International University is organising an orchid plant tissue culture course that aims to equip beginner and professional orchid enthusiasts in the art of manipulating orchid plants in vitro via a virtual training that will provide basic theoretical knowledge and laboratory demonstration on orchid tissue culture. The course, which will be held for two days (4 hours per day) from 26-27 November 2022, will be handled by experienced plant tissue culture experts affiliated to Quest International University.