INDUCTION AND EVALUATION OF VARIABILITY IN EMBRYOGENIC CULTURES OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.)

The study aimed to survey and to evaluate the existing date palm cultivars grown in Sudan. Also, cultural requirements were studied. Seventeen local cultivars were surveyed in northern Sudan and tissue cultures were initiated using axillary buds as explants. Cultural requirements were worked out for three cultivars (‘Kulma’, ‘Mishrig-Wad-laggai’ and ‘Kursha’). The culture medium used was Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various combinations of auxins (IBA and NAA) and cytokinins (BAP and kinetin). A high auxin concentration (100 ml/L IBA) and 3 ml/L BAP yielded a white nodular callus from the explants of the 3 cultivars. The different calluses were anatomically examined for their cell composition. Cultured characteristics, callus morphology and cytology were recorded.