Protocorm cultures of Dendrobium candidum were established in balloon type bubble bioreactors using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0.5 mg l−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2.5% (w/v) sucrose, 5:25 mM NH4 :NO3 and 1% (v/v) banana homogenate for the production of biomass and bioactive compounds.