Micropropagation of Four Coffee Cultivars (Coffea arabica L.) from Yemen through Shoot Tip Culture

Abstract

The aim of this study is to optimize in vitro multiplication of Coffea arabica cvs 'Benan',' Burai',' Odayni' and 'Odayni-Bayat'. Seeds germinated on modified quarter MS medium with 1.0 g l −1 activated charcoal gave the highest germination percentage of the four cultivars under study. BA at 8.0 mgl-1 was the most effective concentration with an average of 14 shoots per explant, resulting in better and morphologically superior microshoots in 'Benan' cv. However 'Burai' ,'Odayni' and 'Odayni-Bayat' cultivars, showed the highest number of shoots when they were grown on MS medium supplemented with BA at 4.0, 2.0 and 6.0 mgl-1 respectively. Root formation was 100% in response to the application of IAA, IBA and /or NAA to the culture media for the four cultivars. Half MS supplemented with NAA at 2.0, 1.0 and 3.0 mgl-1 was found to be a suitable medium for root induction in excised micro-shoots, of 'Odayni', 'Burai' and 'Odayni-Bayat' cultivars, respectively. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized in the greenhouse; consequently the survived plants reached 100%.