Somatic embryogenesis in Phoenix dactylifera: maturation, germination and reduction of hyperhydricity during embryogenic cell suspension culture

This work describes an improved and efficient method for optimum maturation and normal embryo growth to produce healthy plantlets through somatic embryogenesis using suspension cultures for date palm cv. sakkoty. cell suspensions were supplemented with low amounts of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.5mg/1) and different concentrations of abscise acid (AbA) (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mg/l) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000) (1, 3 and 5g/l). Factors affecting embryogenic callus maturation and germination embryos were investigated. somatic embryos and callus fresh weight increased at 3g/l of PEG 4000. treated somatic embryos with 5g/l PEG reduced hyperhydricity. transferring them on the germination medium (G1) supplied with 3 g/l PEG improved the embryo growth. secondary embryos were produced at 0.5 mg/l AbA .shoot proliferation and development of plantlets occurred on medium containing 0.1 NAA mg/l, 0.2 mg/l bA and 0.2 mg/l kin (G2). the highest accumulation of proteins was obtained with 0.5 or 0.3 mg/l AbA. the plantlets were transferred successfully to greenhouse.