Effect of growth regulators on microspore embryogenesis in coconut anthers

Abstract

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 lM NAA in combination with 100 lM 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 lM 2,4-D alone. Kinetin and 2-iP enhanced the production of calli/ embryos when 100 lM 2,4-D was present in the culture medium. Both cytokinins at 10 lM yielded the highest frequencies of embryos (113 and 93, respectively) whereas zeatin (1 or 2.5 lM) had no impact on microspore embryogenesis. When calli/embryos (produced from different treatments in different experiments) were subcultured in somatic embryo induction medium (Y 3 medium containing 66 lM 2,4-D), followed by maturation medium (Y 3 medium without growth regulators) and germination medium (Y 3 medium containing 5 lM-6-benzyladenine-BA and 0.35 lM gibberellic acid-GA 3 ), plantlets were regenerated at low frequencies (in most treatments ranging from 0% to 7%).

Tissue culture and associated biotechnological interventions for the improvement of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): a review

“…However, in a more recent series of studies it has been reported that somatic embryo structures, with root and shoot apices, have been produced through anther culture (Perera et al 2007a(Perera et al , 2008a, and finally homozygotic plants (Perera et al 2008b). The basic procedures now used employ a culture medium developed by Karunaratne and Periyapperuma (1989) and supplemented with a high concentration of sucrose (9 %) (Perera et al 2008a(Perera et al , 2009c. The addition of activated charcoal (0.1 %) is also important to reduce callus necrosis.…”

Application of Biotechnology in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): Sri Lanka

“…A total of 83 plantlets were produced from 32 cultured ovaries (Perera et al 2009a). Tall coconut palm is an allogamous and variable species, is highly heterozygous which a major constraint in conventional breeding (Perera et al 2009b). For the first time, that there is a feasibility of developing homozygous lines in coconut via anther culture.…”

Somatic Embryogenesis in Recalcitrant Plants

“…In some reports of coconut the GA 3 is added into the culture medium to promote the germination of somatic embryos (Perera et al, 2009). However the effect of addition of this phytohormome had not been tested on the formation of somatic embryos.…”