Immature embryo culture in wild Areca spp.

Areca triandra and Areca concinna, wild relatives of cultivated arecanut, Areca catechu L., are possible candidates to develop disease resistant inter-specific hybrids of arecanut, particularly against Phytophthora meadii, which causes fruit rot of arecanut. Inter-specific hybrids often results in premature embryo abortion and fruit fall. A protocol to extract and culture of immature embryos, thus, is of immense significance. Maturation stage of the zygotic embryo and composition of culture media can influence the efficiency of protocol for raising plantlets in vitro. In this study, immature embryos (four months old) were extracted from nuts of A. triandra and A. concinna under sterile conditions were cultured onto four different basal media viz., Y3, MS, B5 and White. All basal media were supplemented with 0.1% charcoal. Germination of the zygotic embryos was found to be initiated after three weeks of culturing. Germination percentage was more in A. triandra as compared to A. concinna. Y3 medium was found to be the best basal medium as indicated by higher germination both in A. triandra and A. concinna.