SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON DATE PALM MICROPROPAGATION USING DIRECT SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS

Abstract

Date palm direct somatic embryos cultures were obtained from culturing the shoot tip explants isolated from off-shoots of semi dry cv. Siwy. Meanwhile, indirect somatic embryos and direct organogenesis were obtained from culturing the explants isolated from immature female inflorescence of date palm soft cv. Zaghloul. The aim of this investigation to study in two separated parts the influence of different physical and chemical factors, inducing combinations of auxins and cytokinins as well as other experiments conditions on the initiation, formation, and germination of direct somatic embryos induced from shoot tip explants of semi dry Siwy cultivar as well as from immature female inflorescence explants of soft Zaghloul cultivar date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The obtained results in first part indicated that highest percentage of free contamination and survival explants were obtained with treatment C (70% ethanol, 1 min + 20% Clorox, 15 min + 0.1% HgCl2, 20 min). In addition, S3 treatment containing 2, 4-D and NAA each at 0.25 mg/l as well as 2iP and BAP each at 2.5 mg/l gave the highest value of pro-embryonic mass.