Direct Organogenesis of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) for Propagation of True-to-Type Plants

RAPD analysis This study aimed to develop an efficient method for micrpropagation of true-to-type date palm plants through direct organogenesis. Nodular cultures were obtained from shoot tips on MS medium plus 2 mg/l 2ip and 1 mg/l NAA. Among combinations of 2ip and 2,4-D added to culture medium for direct shoot buds proliferation, 5 mg/l 2ip alone gave the highest organogenesis frequency. For in vitro multiplication, culture medium amended with 5 mg/l 2ip + 2 mg/l Kin gave the maximum shoot bud proliferation and shoot bud length. The response of three (1, 5, and 10 mg/l) concentrations of silver nitrate in the presence of 2ip regarding shoot bud multiplication was examined. Supplementation of culture medium with 5 mg/l silver nitrate was superior to the other concentrations used. For in vitro rooting, NAA (1 mg/l) was the best for in vitro root formation in comparison with IAA or IBA at same concentration. Acclimatization was achieved by transferring the plantlets into pots contained equal volumes of peat moss and vermiculite under high humidity. Tissue cultured plantlets were subjected to assessment of genetic stability using RAPD analyses. The patterns of DNA amplification showed a very high level of genetic similarity between regenerated plants and their mother plant. © 2013 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved.