Resumen

VELASQUEZ SALAZAR, Rosalía et al. Somatic embryogenesis in Venezuelan cocoa cultivars. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2006, vol.56, n.1, pp.61-74. ISSN 0002-192X.

The traditional sexual and asexual methods of cocoa propagation have been widely used in Venezuela and worldwide, however, they have not been successful since plants with undesirable agronomic characteristics are produced. At present, plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis provides an alternative method for clonally propagating cocoa. Therefore, a protocol was developed in order to use staminode, petal, anther and immature cotyledon explants of genotypes Choroní-42, Ocumare-77, Ocumare-61 and Porcelana. Callus formation was induced with Thidiazuron (TDZ), high sucrose concentration and 2,4-D. Somatic embryos were induced with kinetin and coconut water. Embryos were transferred to a medium containing amino acids and KNO₃ and placed under dark conditions and 26-29 ºC. Cotyledonary embryos were subcultivated under photoperiodic conditions of 16/8 hours light-dark for posterior formation of plants.

Palabras clave : Somatic embryogenesis; cocoa; Theobroma cacao L; staminodes; cotyledon; callus.

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