Vriesea splendens
Flaming Sword
Vriesea splendens, commonly known as "flaming sword," is a bromeliad with lance-shaped or linear, green or purplish foliage 30-45 cm long. The leaves have smooth margins and may have colorful bracts at the leaf bases. The reference workflow follows the LFDGV/CCA/UFSC benchmark described in Jain & Ochatt (2010).
From the center of the funnel-shaped rosette emerges an upright inflorescence consisting of a flattened stem of brilliant red or orange overlapping bracts with yellow flowers. The bracts are brightly colored and last for months.
In natural populations, it grows as an epiphyte and terrestrial in lower levels of dense forests of tropical Trinidad, Venezuela, Guyana and Surinam. This protocol uses Thidiazuron for cost-effective multiplication.
Basal Medium Reference (MS + Morel)
Murashige & Skoog salts plus Morel vitamins form the basal medium for all stages.
| Component | Stock | Volume | Final in 1 L |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH₄NO₃ | 82.5 g/L | 20 mL | 1,650 mg/L |
| KNO₃ | 95.0 g/L | 20 mL | 1,900 mg/L |
| CaCl₂·2H₂O | 88.0 g/L | 5 mL | 440 mg/L |
| KH₂PO₄ | 34 g/L | 5 mL | 170 mg/L |
| MgSO₄·7H₂O | 74 g/L | 5 mL | 370 mg/L |
| Fe-EDTA solution | 37.3 & 27.8 g/L | 10 mL | Fe chelate pair |
| Micronutrient mix | 1.24–0.0055 g/L | 5 mL | Boron, iodine, molybdenum, cobalt |
| Morel vitamins | 1–100 mg/L | full strength | Thiamine, pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, Ca pantothenate, myo-inositol, glycine |
| Sucrose | - | - | 30 g/L |
Operational Timeline (PDF Benchmark)
Stage 1 · Weeks 0–16
Induction
NAA 1 μM + BAP 2 μM, nodule clusters arise
Stage 2 · Weeks 16–32
Establishment
PGR-free medium, 2× 8-week subcultures
Stage 3 · Variable
Multiplication
TDZ 0.1 μM for cost-effective proliferation
Stage 4 · Weeks 32–44
Elongation
GA₃ 10 μM, shoots reach ≥3 cm
Stage 5 · Weeks 44–52
Acclimatization
2:1:1 substrate, 95% survival
Stage 1: Induction (8 weeks)
- Step 1 Inoculate buds over filter paper bridges in test tubes (25 mm × 150 mm).
- Step 2 Use 15 mL liquid culture medium per tube.
- Step 3 Medium composition: MS salts + Morel vitamins + Sucrose 30 g/L + NAA (1 μM) + BAP (2 μM)
- Step 4 Conditions: 25°C ± 2°C, 16h light (50-60 μmol/m²/s), 60% ± 5% RH
- Step 5 After , new buds and shoots develop from explants.
- Step 6 After (total 16 weeks), adventitious shoots from nodule cluster cultures arise.
Stage 2: Establishment & Development (16 weeks)
- Step 1 Subculture 0.1 g nodular cluster cultures over filter paper bridges.
- Step 2 Use test tubes (25 mm × 150 mm) containing 15 mL liquid medium.
- Step 3 Medium: Same as induction stage but devoid of PGR (plant growth regulators).
- Step 4 Subculture twice at 8-week intervals in PGR-free medium.
Stage 3: Multiplication with Thidiazuron
TDZ is more cost-effective than traditional BAP/NAA combinations. At lower concentrations compared to BAP and NAA, TDZ significantly reduces overall production costs while maintaining high multiplication rates.
- Step 1 Subculture 0.5 g nodular cluster cultures in 300 mL flasks.
- Step 2 Use 25 mL liquid medium per flask.
- Step 3 Medium: MS + Morel vitamins + Sucrose 30 g/L + Thidiazuron (0.1 μM)
- Step 4 Culture for multiplication cycle (duration varies by response).
Stage 4: Elongation (12 weeks)
- Step 1 Subculture 8-10 microshoot clusters per 300 mL flask.
- Step 2 Use 15 mL liquid medium per flask.
- Step 3 Medium: MS + Morel vitamins + Sucrose 30 g/L + GA₃ (10 μM)
- Step 4 Shoots elongate over to ≥3 cm for acclimatization.
Stage 5: Acclimatization (8 weeks)
- Step 1 Transfer shoots >3 cm to trays of 128 cells (60 cm³ each).
- Step 2 Substrate composition: 2:1:1 (v:v:v) Plantmax® HA : pine bark : carbonized rice coat
- Step 3 Place trays in greenhouse with controlled mist and 50% shade.
- Step 4 Weekly spray with ¼ MS salts solution.
- Step 5 Duration:
- Step 6 Survival rate: 95%
Vriesea Hormone Comparison
Compare hormone regimes across Vriesea species from the PDF benchmark.
| Species | Induction | Multiplication | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| V. splendens | NAA 1 μM + BAP 2 μM | TDZ 0.1 μM | GA₃ 10 μM |
| V. fosteriana | NAA 2 μM + BAP 4 μM | TDZ 0.1 μM | PGR-free |
| V. reitzii | NAA 2 μM + BAP 4 μM | NAA + BAP or PGR-free | GA₃ 10 μM |
| V. brusquensis (TIS) | NAA 2 μM + BAP 4 μM | PBZ 2 μM | GA₃ 10 μM |
Key Success Factors
- Low hormone induction: NAA and BAP at 1-2 μM concentrations prevent hyperhydricity
- PGR-free establishment: Extended period without hormones stabilizes cultures
- TDZ efficiency: Very low concentration (0.1 μM) provides effective multiplication at reduced cost
- GA₃ elongation: Essential for achieving minimum 3 cm shoot length
- Substrate mix: Three-component substrate provides excellent drainage and nutrition
- High survival: 95% success rate when minimum shoot size is achieved