SOMATIC EMBRYO FORMATION FROM COTYLEDONARY CULTURE OF THEOBROMA CACAO L.

CHARUVAT CHANTRAPRADIST AND KAMNOON KANCHANAPOOM

ABSTRACT: Calli were initiated from embryo and cotyledon of Theobroma cacao L. cultured on MS medium enriched with several concentrations of 2,4-D and NAA. The calli did not produce embryoids either on these media or hormone-free medium. A stable suspension culture was established from these calli and maintained in a MS liquid medium containing 2A-D. Induction of embryoid was successful when cultured cotyledonary explants on MS medium containing NAA and cw: Embryoid developed into plantlet in the same medium devoid of NAA and cw: Histological analysis revealed that the embryoid was in torpedo stage of development and showed the anatomical organization namely shoot apex, leaf primordia, vascular strand and root apex.

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Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Haad-Yai, Songkla 90112,Thailand.

Received January 31, 1995