Explant age, auxin concentrations and media type affect callus production from oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis ) embryo axes

The effects of explant age of oil palm ( Elaeis huineensis ) embryo axes, 15 and 18 weeks after anthesis (WAA), media type (Eeuwens and Murashige and Skoog) supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-D on callus production employing standard in vitro techniques were investigated. The results of the study showed that the type of response, time of initiation of callus, percentage germinating explants or percentage callusing explants were greatly affected by the age of explants, the concentrations of the growth regulator and type of media. It was found that callus generation was best in the 18 WAA embryo axes culture in Eeuwens’ medium supplemented with 2,4-D. The optimum concentration of the hormone was found to be 50 mgl-1 which initiated callus within 35 days in culture. The percentage callusing explants was 80%. Key words : In vitro, callus, explant, auxin, culture, embryo axes.