Effect of mineral salts, vitamins and gelling agents on somatic embryogenesis in Coffea arabica L. 'Catuai'

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis was induced in leaf explants of Coffea arabicaCatuai. A two steps procedure was followed: explants were first cultured in a callus induction medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine and later transferred to an auxin free embryo induction and conversion medium. The influence of three mineral salt formulations: Schenk & Hildebrandt (1972) full salt solution, Murashige & Skoog (1962) full and half salt solutions; two vitamin mixtures: Gamborg et al. (1968) and Schenk & Hildebrandt (1972) and two gelling agents: agar and gelrite, was assessed. Best embryogenic response was obtained in culture medium with Schenk & Hildebrandt (1972) mineral salts, Gamborg et al. (1968) vitamins and agar. In this medium, somatic embryos were observed after 18 weeks of culture and, six weeks later, 85% of the explants presented an average of 18 somatic embryos per explant.