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Pelatantheria scolopendrifolia (Makino) Aver. is a critically endangered orchid species. In this study, an asymbiotic seed germination and development protocol to facilitate in situ and ex situ conservation of P. scolopendrifolia was determined. Seedlings were cultured in vitro on 1/2-strength Murashige & Skoog medium (1/2 MS), Phytamax Orchid Maintenance Medium (POM), Orchid BM1 Terrestrial Seed Germination & Stem Propagation Medium (OBTSG), or Orchid BM2 Terrestrial Stem propagation and Callus Medium (OBTSCM). Seeds started to germinate on all media except POM, with optimal growth on 1/2 MS medium, wherein 70% of seed germinated and produced roots and shoots within 12 weeks. Thus, we recommend culturing P. scolopendrifolia Seeds on 1/2 MS to facilitate germination and seed development, and in turn, in situ and ex situ conservation of this endangered species.

Here we describe a new analytical method for the detection of two influenza A viruses by nitrocellulose membrane and magnetic sensors that employ a special frequency mixing technique. The combination of the nitrocellulose membrane and magnetic bead detection permits a rapid assay procedure and excludes two steps (the development of color and the stop reaction) required for usual immunochemical detection methods such as ELISA. Quantitative virus detection was performed using magnetic beads conjugated with secondary antibody. The results were compared with conventional assay methods and with a dot-blot assay with fluorescence compound (FITC). Under optimum conditions, our new assay procedure is capable of detecting picograms of virus per well. This new method combining the nitrocellulose membrane and magnetic bead detection reduces analytical time and allows stable and repeatable analyses of samples in point-of-care applications.