Obtention of somatic embryos of Parajubaea cocoides Burret from immature zygotic embryos

Cumbé coconut palm (Parajubaea cocoides Burret) is an ornamental species endemic of Ecuador. It is threatened by environmental and socioeconomic factors. Your sexual propagation by seed, is not effective. Tissue culture can become an alternative and within this, somatic embryogenesis. The objective of this research was to obtain somatic embryos in semi-solid and liquid media culture from immature zygotic embryos. The explants were collected from mature plants and fruits were placed to form calli in culture medium with different concentrations of 2,4-D and activated carbon. Callus with embryogenic structures were used to form embryos in semisolid medium with BAP and kinetin and in liquid culture medium with BAP. The results showed that in treatments without activated carbon or low concentrations of 2,4-D no callus were formed. With 60 mg l-1 2,4-D and 1 g l-1 activated charcoal, friable callus were obtained. It was possible to obtain somatic embryos in semisolid and liquid culture medium, with higher number in liquid. The results provide the basis for propagating this species by somatic embryogenesis. Key words: calli, ornamental, growth regulators, palm