Effect of red and blue light emitting diodes “CRB-LED” on in vitro organogenesis of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Alshakr

The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of light source on enhancement of shoot multiplication, phytochemicals, as well as, antioxidant enzyme activities of in vitro cultures of date palm cv. Alshakr. In vitro-grown buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and incubated under a conventional white fluorescent light (control), and combinations of red + blue light emitting diode (18:2) (CRB-LED). Results revealed that the treatment of CRB-LED showed a significant increase in the number of shoots compared with the white florescent light. Total soluble carbohydrate “TSCH” (7.10 mg g−1 DW.), starch (1.63 mg g−1 DW.) and free amino acids (2.90 mg g−1 DW.) were significantly higher in CRB-LED (p < 0.05). Additionally, CRB-LED induced a higher peroxidase activity (25.50 U ml−1) compared with the white fluorescent light treatment (19.74 U ml−1) as control treatment. Potassium, magnesium and sodium contents in (3.62, 13.99 and 2.76 mg g−1 DW.) were increased in in vitro shoots under CRB-LED treatment in comparison with fluorescent light (p < 0.05). Protein profile showed the appearance of newly bands with the molecular weight of 38 and 60 kDa at the treatment CRB-LED compared with control treatment. Our results demonstrate the positive effects of CRB-LED light during the course of date palm tissue cultures.