The Effect of Picloram Concentrations and Explants Types on the Induction ofSomatic Embryo on North Aceh Cocoa Genotype
Zuyasna1,3, Siti Hafsah1, Rahmi Fajri2, M. Ovan Syahputra2, and Gilang Ramadhan2
1Department of Agroteknology, Faculty of Agriculture, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. 2Tissue Culture Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
3Corresponding author, E-mail: zuyasna@yahoo.com
Abstract
The effect of picloram concentrations and three explants types on cacao somatic embryogenesis was studied. The objective of this work was to evaluate a procedure for somatic embryogenesis of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) Aceh clones. Somatic embryogenesis was induced using floral tissue explants (petal, staminode, and anther) on North Aceh cacao genotype. No growth was observed on petal types of explants on low concentrations of picloram. Depending on the explants, the percentage of explants producing one or more embryos ranged from 3% to 75%, 5% to 80%, and 10% to 90% on media containing 3 mg/l, 4 mg/l, and 5 mg/l picloram respectively. Staminode explants produced 3 to 10 times more somatic embryos than petals, while anthers produced 2 to 5 times. Secondary embryos were induced from the floral explants of the North Aceh cacao genotype that exhibited efficient primary embryogenesis. Percentage embryogenesis generally increased with culture time.
Keywords: Picloram, Cocoa, Somatic embryos, Genotype