SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM IMMATURE ZYGOTIC EMBRYOS OF OIL PALM

Immature zygotic embryos at different developmental stages were used f or callus induction and regeneration studies. Immature embryos excised from fruits 77, 91, 100, 114, 128, 140 and 193 days after pollination and mature embryos were cultured on modified Y3 medium containing 500 mg l-1 cysteine, 0.5% (w/v) PVP-40, 500 muM 2.4-D and 0.3% (w/v) char coal. Compact embryogenic tissue began differentiating directly from e mbryo explants after 2 weeks of culture. The percentage of embryos for ming compact embryogenic tissue ranged from 28.6% for 91-day-old embry os to 0% for 140-day-old and older embryos. Friable embryogenic tissue was observed in callus cultures derived from 100-day-old embryos. Alt hough both compact and friable embryogenic tissues were successfully i solated, normal embryo and plantlet development was observed only from friable embryogenic tissue.