Morphological characterization in nursery of <i>Coffea arabica</i> L. cv. Caturra rojo J-884 plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

The culture of plant cells and tissues plays an important role in agricultural biotechnology, somatic embryogenesis as a method of plant regeneration has been achieved in a large number of families and species including the cultivation of coffee (Coffea spp.). The research was carried out with the objective of determining the morphology of coffee plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis during their ex vitro adaptation in the nursery. Plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis of the red Caturra J-884 cultivar were characterized and compared with plants obtained by zygotic embryogenesis from the same cultivar. The plants of both origins were adapted in a nursery in the area of the Guamuhaya massif for 180 days. The variables evaluated were the survival of the plants, height, leaf area, stem diameter and number of pairs of leaves. The plants obtained by somatic embryogenesis were more uniform in their height. Values between 14 -17.9 cm were found with a range of 3.9; while, plants derived from zygotic embryogenesis oscillated in height values between 9.5 - 28.5 cm with a range value of 19. The plants obtained by the two morphogenetic pathways presented similar morphological characteristics in terms of stem diameter and height. However, plants derived from somatic embryogenesis developed a greater number of pairs of new leaves and total leaf area. Keywords: coffee, conversion, survival, zygotic embryogenesis