Effect of Jatropa Leaves Extract on in Vitro Date Palm Embryos Germination and Shoot Regeneration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to enhance the shoot production of date palm, Hayani cv. by investigating the effect of adding jatropha leaves extract in appropriate doses to the germination and multiplication media of date palm. a small cluster of 7-10 matured somatic embryos of date palm Hayani cv. were grown for 12 weeks on MS medium with 0.5 mg l -1 BA, 0.1 mg l -1 NAA and 10.0 ml l -1 JLE which produced the highest number of somatic embryos (28.3 embryos/jar), with the maximum number of leaves (34.5 leaf/jar) with the longest leaf length (6.0 cm). furthermore; during shoot multiplication stage, clusters of shoots cultivated on MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l -1 BA, 0.5 mg l -1 TDZ and 0.25 mg l -1 NAA with 10 ml l -1 JLE resulted in the best shoot regeneration, with maximum number of shoots (25.2 shoots/jar), the maximum number of leaves (56.0 leaf/jar), and the longest leaf length (5.0 cm). The regenerated shoots with lengths of 5-7 cm were grown on ½ MS medium with 1.0 mg l -1 NAA during the rooting stage.