Following the preliminary assessment (see results section), two media, 1/4 strength modified MS supplemented with
10% CW and modified RE with 1.0 g l−1 activated charcoal and 10% CW, were selected for assessing the effect of light (12 h dark and 12 h light cycle compared to 24 h dark cycle) and pretreatment duration (1% [w/v] NaOCl for 0, 40, 60 or 80 min) ongermination, protocorm formation and protocorm development.