Direct sowing of Coffea arabica somatic embryos mass-produced in a bioreactor and regeneration of plants

• DOI: 10.1007/s002990050720
• Publication Date: 2002-10-06T17:47:06Z
• Authors: D. Etienne-Barry; B. Bertrand; N. Vasquez; H. Etienne
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; embryon somatique; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_27607; F62 - Physiologie végétale - Croissance et développement; bioréacteur; Coffea arabica; adaptation; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25803; semis direct; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_117; 01 natural sciences; facteur du milieu; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_27469; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_921; développement biologique; F02 - Multiplication végétative des plantes; germination; milieu de culture; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10204; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1721; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3247; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2594

The effect of germination conditions on the morphology of Coffea arabica L. somatic embryos mass-produced in a 1-l temporary immersion bioreactor (RITA®) was studied with emphasis on direct sowing in soil. Using germinated embryos, direct sowing resulted in a highly successful conversion of embryos into plants. A culture density above 1600 embryos per 1-l bioreactor positively affected embryo morphology by causing higher embryonic axis elongation (+4-5 mm). At this density, the addition of a high concentration of sucrose (234 mM) 2 weeks before sowing promoted an increase in effective plant conversion in soil (78%) and a vigorous vegetative growth of the resulting plants. Furthermore, direct sowing reduced handling time to 13% and shelving area requirements to 6.3% of the values obtained by conventional acclimatization of plants developed on gel media.