EFFECT OF COPPER SULPHATE AND COBALT CHLORIDE ON GROWTH OF THE IN VITRO CULTURE TISSUES FOR DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) CV. ASHGAR

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of copper sulphate and cobalt chloride on propagation of date palm cv. Ashgar in vitro. The rate of callus proliferation was significantly higher in the medium supplemented with 2 µM copper sulphate and 2 µM cobalt chloride together (p<0.05). Addition of copper sulphate and Cobalt chloride to the medium was most effective for shoots regeneration from callus and enhanced regeneration frequency as well as number of shoots obtained per explant, the best result (7.12 shoot/explant) was obtained by using copper sulphate and Cobalt chloride at 2.0 µM. Also the results of this experiment indicates that the maximum induction of roots can be achieved in the media containing both additives at 0.5 µM. The callus exhibited a decline in carbohydrate contents, proteins, whereas total phenol content increased at high concentration of Cu and Co. The greatest formation of chlorophylls a, b and total chlorophyll was obtained in plantlets grown in the media containing both additives at 0.5 µM. As well as Maximum survivability was noticed for plants cultured in media that containing both copper sulphate and Cobalt chloride at 0.5 µM.