Department of Plant Biotechnology, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner 334001, India
*Corresponding author. E-mail: shekhar_rau@yahoo.com
Abbreviations: 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; BAP, 6-benzyl aminopurine; IAA, indole-3-acetic acid; NAA, α-naphthalene acetic acid; Kn, Kinetin; MS, Murashige and Skoog; ECI, Embryogenic callus induction.
A method of microcloning via somatic embryogenesis was established in datepalm (Phoenix dactylifera L) cultivars. The method has potential for commercial application. Embryogenic cultures were initiated from soft primordial tissues of 2–3-year-old female suckers. The system was optimized first for the genotype ‘Sayar’ and then its applicability was tested to other genotypes. A method of pre-acclimation using pre-acclimation chambers has been devised, which improved hardening survival greatly. More than 80 clones obtained from the genotype ‘Sayar’ have been shifted to field for agronomic evaluation.
datepalm, Phoenix dactylifera, tissue culture, somatic embryogenesis
