Abstract:Paphiopedilum spicerianum has high ornamental and conservation value, but its seeds are extremely small and without endosperm, which restricts its mass reproduction. Both symbiotic seed germination and non-symbiotic seed germination techniques can be used for the large-scale production of orchids in vitro, but they have their advantages and disadvantages. The morphological and anatomical changes in symbiotic and non- symbiotic germination of P. spicerianum seeds were compares. The results showed that the process of symbiotic germination was faster than that of non-symbiotic germination, and the growth trend was consistent. The seed germination rate and protocorm differentiation rate under symbiotic germination were higher than those under non-symbiotic germination (VW medium). After sowing for 60 days, the seed germination rate of symbiotic germination reached 92.57%, and the differentiation rate of protocorm reached 65.06%. From paraffin section, the morphogenetic process of symbiotic germination was faster than that of non-symbiotic germination, such as the formation of protocorm, the establishment of stem meristem and the formation of leaf primordium. Under scanning electron microscopy, the polar distribution of starch granules and fungi existed in the corms and seedlings of symbiotic germinations, but not in non-symbiotic germinations. Therefore, symbiotic germination is more advantageous in promoting protocorm morphogenesis under the action of germinating fungi.