The effect of growth regulators on induction of androgenesis in coconut was investigated using seven different growth regulators
at various concentrations and combinations. Three auxins (1-naphthalene acetic acid—NAA, indoleacetic acid—IAA, picloram)
and three cytokinins (2-isopentyl adenine-2-iP, kinetin, zeatin) were tested either alone or in combination with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid (2,4-D), using modified Eeuwens Y3 liquid medium as the basal medium. Among the tested auxins, 100 μM NAA in combination
with 100 μM 2,4-D enhanced the production of calli/embryos (123) whereas IAA and picloram showed negative and detrimental
effects, respectively, for androgenesis induction over 100 μM 2,4-D alone. Kinetin and 2-iP enhanced the production of calli/embryos
when 100 μM 2,4-D was present in the culture medium. Both cytokinins at 10 μM yielded the highest frequencies of embryos (113
and 93, respectively) whereas zeatin (1 or 2.5 μM) had no impact on microspore embryogenesis. When calli/embryos (produced
from different treatments in different experiments) were sub-cultured in somatic embryo induction medium (Y
3 medium containing 66 μM 2,4-D), followed by maturation medium (Y
3 medium without growth regulators) and germination medium (Y
3 medium containing 5 μM-6-benzyladenine—BA and 0.35 μM gibberellic acid—GA
3), plantlets were regenerated at low frequencies (in most treatments ranging from 0% to 7%).
Keywords Androgenesis - Anther culture - Auxin - Cytokinin - Callus -
Cocos nucifera
- Embryo