The role of coconut water and casein hydrolysat in somatic embryogenesis of date palm and genetic stability detection using RAPD markers

The present investigation was conducted to determine the effect of various concentrations of coconut water (CW) and casein hydrolysate (CH) on callus growth. Somatic embryogenesis and subsequent germination of somatic embryos in date palm cultivar Bream and detecting genetic stability using RAPD markers. Apical bud  (2.0 cm) was excised, surface sterilized and  cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog 1962 (MS) medium supplemented with 50 mg/L Picloram  and 3.0 mg/L isopentenyladenine (2ip). Initial calli were transfered into a medium containing CW and CH. Callus growth was best achieved when 20% (v/v) CW was added giving a mean callus  fresh  weight  of 1.95g  compared  with  those supplemented with CH   at 2.0 g/L which  recorded 1.7 g. However, CW  was  more  effective  in  enhancing  somatic  embryogenesis. Results  showed  that  best  somatic  embryogenesis occurred  on  either 20%(v/v) CW or 2.0 g/L  CH  producing  65 and 47  embryos  per  culture,  respectively. The subsequent germination of somatic embryos was also enhanced after the addition of CW and CH to previous culture medium.  The highest percentage of embryo germination (76%) was achieved with 10% (v:v) CW and 60% was achieved with 2 g/L CH while it was only 45% in the medium lacking CW and CH. The highest percentage of  embryo germination (76%) was achieved with 10% (v:v) CW and it reach 60% with 2 g/L CH while it was only 45% in the medium lacking CW and CH. Randomly  Amplified  Polymorphic   DNA (RAPD)  markers   conducted  in  this  investigation  confirmed the  resemblance  among  the  tissue  culture  plantlets  as  well  as with  donor tree.ÂÂ