Influence of explant sources of adult date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on embryogenic callus formation

Abstract

Several explant sources from offshoots of adult date palm were investigated for callus production. Most explants produced a friable callus composed of large parenchymatous cells with a small nucleus and a large centrally located vacuole. The friable callus from the shoot tip differentiated axillary buds, and leaf primordia bases developed into a nodular callus composed of small meristematic cells with a large centrally located nucleus and a dense cytoplasm. Only the nodular callus produced viable somatic embryos. The use of leaf primordia bases is important for the propagation of individual genotypes, where the availability of explants is very limited.