Factors Influencing Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Regeneration of Date Palm using Immature Floral Buds

Current study explains effective in vitro protocols for somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in commercially important date palm cvs.Begum Jungi and Ajwa.Spikelet explants of spathes (avg.17, 28, 32 cm) excised at different intervals were used as initial explants.Results revealed that sterilization of spathes with 50% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution resulted in significantly highest survival, lowest mortality and contamination in spikelet explants.The spikelet explants obtained from immature spathes (avg.17 cm) resulted in significantly highest callogenesis in cvs.Begum Jungi (83.6%) and Ajwa (75.6%).Significantly highest callus induced in floral buds in cvs.Begum Jungi (87.3%) and Ajwa (84.3%) on medium comprising of 2,4-D (2.0 mg L -1 ), 2iP (0.5 mg L -1 ).Medium comprising of 0.05 mg L -1 2,4-D, 2.0 mg L -1 2iP, 3 g L -1 activated charcoal induced significantly highest somatic embryos in cvs.Begum Jungi (83.3%) and Ajwa (82.6%).Somatic embryos induced in calli after nine months of initial culture were categorized into repeated and non-repeated.Medium comprising of NAA 0.1 mg L -1 , Kin 1.0 mg L -1 revealed with significantly highest germination of somatic embryos in cvs.Begum Jungi (55.6%) and Ajwa (52.3%).Findings obtained will support to describe proper spathe size and plant growth regulator (PGR) levels for somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in commercially important cultivars of date palm worldwide.