African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (3), pp. 244-246, March 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Somatic embryogenesis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from apical meristem tissues from ‘zebia’ and ‘loko’ landraces

Chukwuemeka R. Eke¹, Peter Akomeah² and Omorefe Asemota¹*

¹Physiology Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, P.M.B. 1030, Benin City, Nigeria.

²Botany Department, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: efe_asemota@hotmail.com. Tel: 234-52-602485. Fax: 234-52-602486.

Accepted February 23, 2005

The shoot apical meristem from young suckers were used as sources of explants for initiation of culture using MS basal medium which contained 2,4-D. This was incubated at 27oC in the dark. Callogenesis was observed as early as the second subculture. Continuous subculture of the callus in the establishment medium at about the third subculture from calls production, resulted in somatic embryo formation. The somatic embryos were then transferred to MS medium without hormones under light where they matured after about two subcultures and developed into shoots. The shoots produced roots when transferred to a medium which contained NAA at 0.1 mg/L.

Key words: somatic embryogenesis, date palm, in vitro, micropropagation.