Determination of Appropriate Media for In. Vitro Culture of Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera L

Abstract

Studies were conducted at the Tissue Culture Laboratory, Date Palm Technology Company, Shambat, Khourtom, to determine the morphogenic potential of variety of explant types obtained from field – grown date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Trees. In the first experiments three types of root segment namely proximal, median and distal one cm long were excised from field – grown mature trees of Mishrig Wad Laggi cultivar and cultured on Al-Dalaigan (1995) medium supplemented with varies concentrations and combinations of benzyl adenine (BA) or kinetin, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) , or indole-3-acitic acid (IAA) alone and in combination were tested. The results showed that the low concentrations of both BA or Kin 0.1-1.0 mg/l gave high values for elongation and growth responses measured of primary roots for basal and distal root segment. Also low concentrations of BA and kinetin was best to formed secondary roots. High BA concentrations (>3.0 mg/l) in combination with 0.3 mg/l NAA was equally suitable for the growth and development of primary root of basal root but inhibited the secondary roots formation for basal root segments, similar result were obtained with kinetin combination with NAA or IAA in low concentrations for both basal or distal root segments. High kinetin concentrations at 3.0 mg/l or 1.0 mg/l gave best increase length of primary basal roots and only 3.0 mg/l kinetin induced secondary roots formation on distal root explants. In the second group of experiments the morphogenic response of shoot tips and root apices and for immature female floral explants excised from mature field grown date palm trees was Mishrig Wad Laggi and Barhee cultivar was evaluated. MS medium supplemented with 100 mg/l trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) and 3.0 mg/l isopentyl adenine (2ip) was used as initiation medium for callus induction for all types explants. Varies growth regulators type combination were tested as to their effect or callus induction , maintenance and somatic embryogenesis and regeneration. The physical state of the nutrient media were also aressed. Best callus maintenance was achieved on MS medium contained 10 mg/l of each BA and parachlorophenyoxy acetic acid (4CPA) where as embryogenesis was successfully obtained on liquid MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l BA + 0.3 NAA and embryo maturation germination was err dent on also 3.0 mg/l + 0.3 NAA. Plantlets regenerated successfully rooted were transferred to MS medium contained 0.1 mg/l NAA.