DIRECT EMBRYOGENESIS AND INDIRECT ORGANOGENESIS OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) CV. SEWI USING IMMATURE FEMALE INFLORESCENCES

Abstract

This study was achieved at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Giza, Egypt during the period from 2013 to 2017, Direct embryo initiation and callus formation of date palm cv. Sewi from immature female inflorescences have been achieved on modified MS medium supplemented with 4 mg l-1 Picloram plus 3 mg l-1 2 iP and 2 g l-1 PVP. Results also showed that BA at 0.5 mg l-1 produce the highest number of differentiated embryos/culture, while kinetin at 0.25 mg l-1 significantly increased the average number of adventitious shoots/culture. NAA at 1.0 mg l-1 induced the highest rooting percentage and micro-shoot length. On the other hand the best survival percentage during the acclimati-zation stage was observed with plantlets produced from IBA at 0.5 mg l-1 during the rooting stage.