he introduction of novel characteristics such as new colours or disease resistance into orchids is usually difficult through mutation or conventional breeding, but could be achieved relatively easily by genetic transformation For example, Oncidium lines transformed with the pflp gene, coding for an antimicrobial ferredoxin-like protein, showed enhanced resistance to Erwinia carotovora, the causal agent for the soft rot disease Due to the rate at which the consumer market is demanding change and innovation, much pressure is placed on breeders to develop methods to rapidly insert genes of interest into important orchid cultivars. Orchids are currently the second most valuable potted crop in the United States with a total wholesale value