Investigation of somatic embryogenesis possibilities in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit species grown in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a plant of high economic importance and nutritional value, but it requires a long time to propagate with traditional propagation methods. For this reason, propagation by tissue culture methods offers an important alternative to traditional propagation methods. In this study, the effects of plant growth regulators (2,4D , 2iP, NAA) in different concentrations and combinations on micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis and callus formation in date palm were investigated. Additionally, histological analyzes were performed on calli at different developmental stages. In the research, immature seeds, flower stems and leaves were used as explant sources. It was determined that the best medium for callus formation from immature seeds, flower stalks and leaf explants was MS medium containing 4 mg/L 2,4D + 6 mg/L 2iP. The best results in terms of embryogenic callus formation and plant transformation potential were obtained on MS medium containing NAA (1 mg/L) + 2iP (1.5 mg/L). The highest somatic embryo formation (10.33) was obtained from immature seed explants in MS medium containing 10 mg/L NAA + 1.5 mg/L 2iP. These results emphasize the critical impact of plant growth regulators on callus formation and embryogenic transformation, providing significant insights for optimizing the production of date palms using somatic embryogenesis. This study aims to contribute to the development of effective and innovative methods for the propagation of date palms.