In vitro growth of embryos and callus of coconut palm.

A medium for optimal growth of embryos of Jamaican Tall and Green Malayan Dwarf varieties of coconut palm was developed. The Liquid basal Murashige and Skoog medium was supplemented with coconut milk, IAA and 2IP. Activated charcoal improved embryo growth on agar medium. A single callus line was initiated from solid endosperm and subcultured on basal Schenk and Hildebrandt medium supplemented with 2 mg per 1 NAA. Attempts at inducing organogenesis in the callus were unsuccessful. No vascular tissue was present. The callus was aneuploid with the chromosome number = 8 (normal 2n = 32).