Propagation of Date Palm {Phoenix dactylifera L.)in vitro

Adventitious plantlets were obtained from lateral buds, shoot tips, embryos, and pieces of stem and rachilla tissue of Phoenix dactylifera L. cultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3 mg 1~' AHJ2-isopentyl)adenine, 0-1-100 mg 1~' a-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 3 g I"1 activated charcoal. Additions of auxins were necessary to induce explants to produce callus, adventitious plantlets, and roots. Plantlets were obtained from explants cultured 3-4 months in vitro. No difference in growth responses between male and female explants was observed during culture. Complex addenda of activated charcoal and polyvinylpyrrolidone were tested in the nutrient media at various concentrations to prevent explant browning. Activated charcoal fostered satisfactory growth by reducing the browning and inhibition of growth of explants.