SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM IMMATURE INFLORESCENCES OF OIL PALM

Immature inflorescences of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) var. Pisifera were inoculated onto modified MS medium containing 0.3 % (w/v) activat ed charcoal and 475 mu M 2,4-D. After 2-3 months of culture, a hard ye llow callus proliferated at the base of the shoot-like structures. The high incidence of phenolic oxidation required the use of increased le vels of activated charcoal (0.5% w/v) and 2,4-D (500 mu M) Development of floral structures from inflorescence explants was frequently obser ved during the culture period. After 81 weeks of culture, an embryogen ic tissue characterized by compact consistency and pearly white color was observed in tissues derived from very young inflorescences. This c ompact embryogenic tissue differentiated into normal somatic embryos w hen transferred onto regeneration medium containing NAA (15 mu M) and ABA (2 mu M). Normal plantlets were recovered from these somatic embry os after 8 weeks on regeneration medium.