Micropropagation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) var. Maktoom through direct organogenesis

This study aimed to determine the best combinations of plant growth regulators and other conditions in order to achieve organogenesis and multiplication directly from shoot tips of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) var. Maktoom without callus formation so as to avoid any possibility of undesirable genetic variability. Results revealed that MS modified medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L 2ip, 1.0 mg/L BA, 1.0 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L NOA was the best for bud formation from shoot tip after 16 weeks (6.2 bud per explant). Subculturing the formed buds on liquid agitated multiplication medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 2ip, 2 mg/L BA, 1.0 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L NOA gave the optimum average of buds number (12.6 buds). In elongation stage MS medium with 0.5 mg/L GA(3) and 0.1 mg/L NAA enhanced plantlet length to 5.3 cm. Optimum rooting percentage 90% was achieved when shoots were transferred to a medium with 1.0 mg/L NAA. The average root number after 8 weeks was 5.4 with 9.0 cm length. Rooted shoots (plantlets) were transplanted in small pots containing a mixture of peatmoss and perlite (2:1) and placed in plastic tunnels or in a greenhouse. The survival percentage was 85% after 3 months when the plants were transferred to bigger pots. These results define a successful protocol for the in vitro propagation of Maktoom cv. date palm.