In vitro induction of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) shoot roots and their acclimatization in mycorrhiza-enriched media

Abstract

Oil palm is a vegetable oil-producing plant (CPO) which provides the largest foreign exchange contribution compared to other crops and is widely used in food, medicine, cosmetic, and energy industries. Tissue culture technology is currently used to produce quality oil palm seeds. Oil palm shoots tend to grow and develop in clumps (groups) in vitro. Bipolar nature does not appear in all the shoots produced, so to produce plantlets it is necessary to do induction. This research aimed to obtain the right root induction media. A completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors was used with the first factor being the type of auxin (IAA, IBA, and NAA), and the second was the auxin concentration (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 ppm). In the eighth week after planting, the variables of root length, number of leaves, and shoot height were not significantly different except for the root number. The best root induction media for plantlet formation was the MS base medium with the addition of NAA type auxin at a concentration of 0.75 ppm. The plantlets formed a symbiosis with mycorrhiza which was applied at a dose of 4 g per polybag in the fourth month after planting.