The study was aimed at generating callus from immature inflorescence and young leaf explants of coconut (Cocos nucifera L). Eeuwen’s medium which was supplemented with Murashige and Skoog macro salts, 6-Benzylamino purine (BAP) and 6-y dimethylally amino purine (2iP) at concentration of 1 mg/l each, was used as the culture medium. The effect of different concentrations of growth regulators when added to the culture medium was tested on callus generation. The auxins used were 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 mg/l. The immature inflorescence and young leaf explants were used for culture initiation. Callus production was observed between 14 – 26 weeks after culture initiation. The results obtained showed that callus generation was not possible from both explants when concentrations between 0 - 40 mg/l, 2,4-D and NAA were used for media supplementation. The growth regulator that was more effective in generating callus from both leaf and inflorescence explants was 2,4-D, with optimal concentration of 50 mg/l. In leaf culture, the optimal concentration of 2,4-D yielded 40 % callusing explant and 0.082 g fresh mean
weight of callus, while the inflorescences yielded 20 % callusing explant. By a way of comparison, the leaf explant is to be preferred over the inflorescence explants for callus production in coconut.
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Volume
Page Range
171-178
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