Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from zygotic embryo-derived callus of Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae)

An in vitro culture procedure was established for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from callus cultures of the important palm 'betel nut' (Areca catechu L.). Segments of zygotic embryos of Areca catechu L. were cultured on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with dicamba (9.05, 18.1, 27.15, and 36.2 muM). After 7-8 wk in darkness, wounded regions of explants formed callus with yellow, soft, glutinous structures. Proliferation and maintenance of callus was on the same dicamba-containing medium. With regular subculture every 8 wk, the callus showed pale yellow, compact and nodular structures. During subculture, somatic embryos were formed spontaneously from nodular callus tissues within 2-4 mo. The embryos developed into plantlets after 10 wk of culture on basal medium free of plant growth regulators. After subculturing every month for 3 mo., the plantlets were transferred to containers for acclimatization in the greenhouse. The survival rate was 24%.