Direct somatic embryogenesis from leaf primordia in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Zaghloul

The present work was conducted in the Central Laboratory for Date Palm Research and 
Development, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt. The aim of this 
study was to enhance somatic embryogenesis directly from leaf primordia in Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera 
L.) cv. Zaghloul by using dichlorophenoxy acetic acid  at concentrations (2.5 , 5.0 ; 7.5 and 10.0 mg/l ). 
Results revealed that the high rate of direct somatic embryos was obtained from leaf primordia explants 
cultured individually each on 3/4 strength MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D levels (2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10 
mg/l) either solely or combined with 3 mg/l 2ip +0.4 mg/l thiamin-HCl + 170 mg/l KH2PO4 + 7 g/l agar + 
200 mg/l glutamine + 3 g/l activated charcoal and 30 g/l sucrose. The lowest concentration of 2,4-D (2.5 
mg/l) induced somatic embryos directly, compared to the other  three investigated levels. Embryos were 
transferred to medium supplemented with 3/4 MS+ 3.0 mg/l kinetin + 170 mg/l KH2PO4 + 200 mg/l 
glutamine + (1.5g/l) charcoal. Multiplication medium amended with kinetin (6-furfuryl amino purine) and 
2ip (N6-2isopenteyl adenine) each at two concentrations (0.1 & 1.0 mg/l) combined with 0.1 or 0.5 NAA 
mg/l. The increase in number of proliferated shootlets was exhibited by 2ip over kinetin, However higher 2ip 
level (0.5mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l) tended to be relatively more effective. For rooting formation, several 
levels (20, 40 and 80 mg/l) of phloroglcionl (PG) were added to the rooting. The superior concentration 
which exhibited the tallest and greatest number of rootlets per each plantlet was 20 mg/l. Acclimatization 
was achieved by transferring the plantlets into pots contained equal volumes of peat moss and 
vermiculite(1:1by volume) under high (85-90%) humidity, 27C ± 1 and 10,000 LUX (Light intensity).