In Vitro Propagation of Coffea arabica cv. MCH2 Using Nodal Explants

A protocol for rapid in vitro propagation of Coffea arabica L hybrid (MCH2) through shoot induction from nodal explants was established. Proliferation of shoots from nodal segments was achieved on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations of N 6 -benzyladenin (BA). The highest number of shoots per explant (3.5±0.8) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 44.4 µM (10 mg/l) BA. Moreover, 135.7 µM (25 mg/l) adenine hemisulfate could not enhance shoot proliferation. In vitro regenerated shoots rooted best on half-strength MS medium containing 7.35 µM (1.5 mg/l) IBA and 20 g/l sucrose. There was no significant difference between 20 or 30 g/l sucrose as well as no significant interaction effect were observed between sucrose and IBA on rooting. Rooted shoots, acclimatized in the green house with 87 % survival and were successfully transferred to field conditions. Keywords: Coffee, nodal explants, shoot proliferation, N 6 -benzyladenin, 3-indolbutric acid