Comparison between Gelled Culture and Temporary Immersion System for Somatic Embryos Proliferation of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Abstract

Oil palm in vitro propagation was developed using both solid (gelled) and liquid media. Many restrictive factors remain in oil palm in vitro propagation such as long culture duration, a high degree of genotype dependence, somaclonal variation, low rate of somatic embryogenesis and also followed by low rate of somatic embryos proliferation. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternative ways to increase somatic embryo proliferation to obtain more shoots without compromising the quality of in vitro plantlets. In this study, somatic embryos proliferation and germination were evaluated through Temporary Immersion System (TIS) in comparison with gelled culture. Globular primary somatic embryos were selected and cultured in TIS and gelled culture. After six months of culture, somatic embryos in TIS were multiplied and germinated on solid medium. Parameters observed were fresh weight and number of somatic embryos and shoots production amount. The results shown that TIS produced more clumps (186 clumps) and fresh weight (12.79g) of somatic embryos compared to gelled culture (81 clumps; 3.60 g). TIS also produced more shoots and therefore resulting in more plantlets. The quality of plantlets derived from TIS was not different from gelled culture.