Formation of callus and somatic embryos of Cocos nucifera L. cv. Indio Amarillo using semisolid medium

Abstract

The objective of this work was evaluated the effect of the concentration of 2,4-D and the type of explant in the formation of callus of Cocos nucifera L. cv. Indio Amarillo. The biggest percentages of explants with callus were obtained with the sections 1 in all the 2,4-D concentration, with a gradual decrease when the section belongs to the most external region of the somatic embryo caulinar zone. The best results in the callus formation process was obtained with the 2,4-D concentrations of 28.0 mg.l-1 and 35.0 mg.l-1, with 90% and 70% of the explants with callus and an average level of development according to the scale of 3.5 and 2.2 at ten weeks of culture. With the objective of to form somatic embryos, the callus obtained with 28.0 mg.l-1 of 2,4-D were put in a culture medium of similar composition to the callus formation medium, but with a lower concentration of 2,4-D (21.0 mg.l-1) and at five weeks of culture was observed as average seven somatic embryos per callus, some of them germinated. Key words: callogenesis, coconut tree, somatic embryogenesis, plant grow regulators