Development of an in vitro regeneration system for Theobroma cacao from mature tissues

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) Vol. 164; no. 3; pp. 407 - 412
• Main Authors: Tan, C.L, Furtek, D.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-03-2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cocoa tissue culture; Cytological analyses; Economic plant physiology; Floral explants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In vitro culture; Plant physiology and development; Somatic embryogenesis; Tissue cultures, protoplasts; Woody species; Floral explants; Woody species; Cocoa tissue culture; Somatic embryogenesis; Cytological analyses; Culture medium; Embryonic development; Floral explains; Flower bud; Stimulant plant; Micropropagation; Growth regulator treatment; Chromosomic number; Somatic embryo; Regeneration; Dicotyledones; Sterculiaceae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Theobroma cacao
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9452(02)00428-4

Induction of somatic embryogenesis from tissues in unopened flower buds of cocoa was studied with respect to physiological age, type of floral explant, genotype, and medium composition and phytohormones. Two-to-three-week-old staminodes were found to be the best explants for embryogenesis. Embryogenesis was affected by genotype and sugars. Two main types of abnormalities of the embryos were observed: fusion of the hypocotyls and multiple cotyledons. These embryos have a lower rate of conversion into plantlets. Cytological analyses of somatic embryo-regenerated plants revealed a somatic chromosome number of 2
n=2
x=20, similar to seed-derived plants.