Authors: Emile Minyaka Nicolas Niemenak Fotso Abdourahamane Sangare Denis Ndoumou Omokolo
Publish Date: 2008/06/05
Volume: 94, Issue: 2, Pages: 149-
Abstract
Somatic embryogenesis in cacao is difficult and this species is considered as recalcitrant Therefore reformulation of culture media might be a breakthrough to improve its somatic embryogenesis In cacao acquisition of somatic embryogenesis competence involves three main stages induction of primary callus induction of secondary callus and embryo development Screening for MgSO4 and K2SO4 concentrations for somatic embryo differentiation was conducted on three genotypes Sca6 IMC67 and C15161 at the three stages The effect of these two salts in culture media appears to be most efficient at the embryo development stage At this stage high MgSO4 24 mM and K2SO4 71568 mM in the culture media induced direct somatic embryos on staminodes and petals of the Sca6 and IMC67 genotypes Media supplemented with 60 mM and 120 mM MgSO4 enabled high responsive of explants and produced high proportion of embryos The positive effect of MgSO4 and K2SO4 on the acquisition of embryogenesis competence was further tested on seven cacao genotypes reputed as non embryogenic SNK12 ICS40 POR IMC67 PA121 SNK64 and SNK10 All these genotypes were able to produce somatic embryos depending on the MgSO4 concentration Thus our results showed that the recalcitrance of cacao to somatic embryo differentiation can be overcome by screening for the suitable MgSO4 or K2SO4 concentration Studies of the influence of different K+/Mg2+ ratios at normal sulphate concentration on somatic embryo differentiation revealed that sulphate supply was the main factor promoting responsive explants and the proportion of embryos Cysteine synthase isoforms showed patterns related to morphogenetic structures sustaining that sulphur supply and its assimilation improve somatic embryogenesis in cacao
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