Effet du sucre sur l'embryogenèse somatique de l'olivier (Olea europaea L.) cv. 'Picholine marocaine'

Abstract

Effect of sugar on somatic embryogenesis of olive tree (Olea europaea L.) cv ' Moroccan Picholine '. The somatic embryogenesis of the olive tree cv ' Moroccan Picholine ' has been until now very little studied, in spite of its importance for Morocco.Thus, our work aimed to study the effects of type and concentrations of sugar on the induction and the development of somatic embryos of this variety. Regeneration of olive plants via somatic embryogenesis has been achieved from cotyledon fragments. Embryogenic, nodular and compact calli have been induced on media supplemented with 0.5 mg.l-1 zeatin and 2 mg.l-1 NAA and different types of sugar as mannitol, saccharose and sorbitol and different saccharose concentrations (20, 30, 60 and 90 g.l-1). The highest percentage of callus induction (P < 0.001) was observed with mannitol (90.6%). Up to 37% somatic embryogenesis was obtained in the case of saccharose (P < 0.001). The best callus induction was obtained in presence of 30 g.l-1 saccharose. This concentration was the best for olive plantlets regeneration. No morphogenesis was obtained with sorbitol. Somatic embryogenesis seems to be able to constitute an interesting source of micropropagation of olive tree in Morocco.

Keywords

• in vitro regeneration
• olive tree
• somatic embryogenesis
• sugar