INVESTIGATION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FOR IN VITRO CULTURES OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.)

Date palm is increasingly recognised as an important crop in northern Nigeria. Agriculturally, it can sustainably generate incomes for farmers to take families out of the poverty line while at the same time it can be used as a tree crop to check desertification. To achieve these expectations, a national date palm development program involving planting material production and date palm agronomy is currently underway. The somatic embryogenesis method is being currently adopted to produce planting materials. Apical meristem and leaf explants were used to initiate in vitro cultures. A range of media and media conditions were tested and different media induced callus. These media were supplemented with different growth regulators, sucrose at different concentrations and nitrogen in the growth medium. NAA and 2,4-D provoked callus production. Callus could be produced at various sucrose concentration levels but 30 g/L was optimum. Callus generation potential was best from apical meristems, followed by leaf bases and leaves. Similarly different media also induced somatic embryos but the most reliable medium was the one containing 0.05 mg/L NAA and 1 mg/L 2-ip. The somatic embryos readily developed into shoots which could be rooted in NAA and sucrose (45-90 g/L). Some plants are in the nursery while some have been planted in the field undergoing observation.