African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (20), pp. 2353-2357, 18 October 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in vitro morphogenesis in response to growth regulators, sucrose and nitrogen

Omorefe Asemota*, Chukwuemeka R. Eke and Joshua O. Odewale

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

*Corresponding author. E-mail: omorefeasemota@yahoo.com. Tel.: 234-52-602485; Fax: 234-52-602486.

Abbreviations: 2,4-D, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 2-ip, 6.γ.γ.dimethylallylamino purine; NAA, Naphthalene acetic acid.

Accepted 27 September, 2007

Studies were conducted to test the effect of different growth regulators, sucrose and nitrogen on Phoenix dactylifera L. explants cultured on Eeuwen’s basal medium. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was very effective for callus induction. Addition of cytokinins (BAP and Kinetin) to NAA containing media did not enhance actual callus growth. Sucrose influenced callus production. Depending on the auxin concentration of media, callus production could be supported by sucrose within the range 15 - 105 g/l but the optimum sucrose concentration in the medium in all cases, as determined by size of callus was 30 g/l. NAA and sucrose tended to interact at relatively high levels of sucrose (45 – 90 g/l) to produce roots in culture. KNO₃ was essential as a source of nitrogen for callogenesis and optimum callus formation was observed at 50 mM (combined nitrogen).

Key words: Phoenix dactylifera, in vitro culture, phytohormone, sucrose.