IN VITRO CULTURE OF EMBRYOS AND CALLUS OF OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.)

Abstract

Surface sterilization of oilpalm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) embryos with 40% aqueous solution of Clorox for 20 minutes produceda high percentage of uncontaminated embryos suitable for callus initiation. Shoots with well developed roots were produced when embryos were cultured on 1/2 MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962), MS and Y3 (Eeuwens 1976) media supplemented with 0.0$% activated charcoal (AC). It was found that 1/2 MS and Y3 media gave better growth than MS medium. The inclusion of auxins and cytokinins in media containing AC resulted in improved growth of embryos. Balanced shoot and root development was obtained by supplementing media with NAA and BAP, with the optimal concentration being 10 mg/l. Callus was produced in the presence of 1-10 mg/l 2,4-D and 30-70 mg/INAA on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.05% AC The presence of an auxin was found to be essential for culture of oil palm callus and 2,4-D was superior to NAA.