SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM CELL SUSPENSION CULTURES OF OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.)

Abstract

Zygotic embryos of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were excised and cultured on callus induction medium (Eeuwens, 1976; 1978) containing 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Two months-old calli derived from embryos were transferred to liquid callus induction medium without 2,4-D to establish fine suspension cultures. The establishment of cell cultures were obtained in 2-3 months. Cell suspensions were then subcuttured to several regeneration media and embryoid differentiation occurred either in regeneration medium supplemented with 20% (v/v) coconut water or 0.01 mg/l α-naphthateneacetic acid (NAA). However, no ptanttet development was recovered. These embryoids were fixed, sectioned, stained and examined microscopically. The results revealed their bipolar structure consisted of shoot and root meristem, procambial cells and protodermal layer.