KUCHING: Four 16-year-old students of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kuching presented their research on one of Sarawak’s endangered orchid species at the 23rd World Orchid Conference (WOC) in Taiwan last Sunday (April 26).
The conference was held virtually from April 23 to 26.
The students were Sarawakians Alwinchel Lovinner Douglas, Humaira Hossain, Nur Husnina Mohamad Iskandar, and Natalia Jurcy Jurit.
They began the research on the ‘in-vitro micro propagation of an endangered orchid species named Dendrobium anosmum’ in July 2019 at the MRSM Kuching’s orchid in-vitro laboratory.
The first of its kind in Malaysia, the laboratory was launched in 2019 for the purposes of orchid conservation and educational projects.
MRSM Kuching students carrying out a study on Dendrobium anosmum at the school’s orchid in-vitro laboratory. 
MRSM Kuching students carrying out a study on Dendrobium anosmum at the school’s orchid in-vitro laboratory.
The research involved a total of 11 students including two teachers, the school principal, Sarawak Orchid Society’s (Sarorso) founder, president, deputy president, exco members and others members.
Sarorso president Zurenawatte Zaidil told New Sarawak Tribune, said that the students were supposed to present the research in-person last year but unfortunately, the conference was postponed to this year and had to be done virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to her, the endangered Dendrobium anosmum orchid species, which is edible and has commercial value, was selected for research and experiments as a follow up on a pilot project initiated by the society for the introduction of Dendrobium anosmum to be grown on an oil palm estate at Kota Samarahan.
“This species has been listed by the Sarawak Forest Department as an endangered species and was last sighted in Bau in 2002.
“Thus, one of the aims of the study is to improve understanding of the reproduction of the orchid.
“Also, it includes reintroducing these seedlings into oil palm estates as an alternative habitat for not only the Dendrobium anosmum, but also other threatened Sarawak lowland endangered orchids and to improve the biodiversity of the oil palm estates,” said Zurenawatte.
Nur Husnina sharing how the orchid research project started. 
Humaira sharing the propagation of Dendrobium anosmum.
She added that the research techniques included seed viability testing, in-vitro germination testing and seed banking as well as the production of Dendrobium anosmum plants.
“During the trial, we sowed more than 12 orchid species and they have been growing in the MRSM growth room with many of the Dendrobium anosmum plants,” she said.
Zurenawatte added that earlier on in 2019, teacher Dr Simon Pugh-Jones from the Writhlington School, UK and three of his students were in Kuching to teach the MRSM students the orchid in-vitro micro propagation methods.
“Through such collaboration, we are happy to see such an outcome and especially proud that the students are presenting the research project at the international level,” she said.
Zurenawatte hopes more research can be carried out to save more orchids from extinction.
“We hope that more schools in Sarawak can also be involved so that they can contribute to the orchid conservation in Sarawak,” she added.
She pointed out that Sarawak orchids could contribute to the state’s floriculture, medical, food, art, craft and tourism industries.
Alwinchel sharing the seed sowing methods. 
Natalia sharing on the results of the study on Dendrobium anosmum.
