Plantlet regeneration from leaf explants of oil palm seedlings

Plantlet development was achieved from leaf explants of 18-month-old dura and 6-month-old tenera oil palm seedlings. Callus induction was noticed after 100–120 days in dura and 150–180 days in tenera on culturing in half strength Murashige–Skoog basal medium supplemented with 25 mg l-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Seven per cent of the cultured explants in dura and 10% in tenera produced embryogenie calli. These were transferred to regeneration medium containing 1 mg l-1 zeatin riboside. Plantlet development from calli was achieved through both somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis. Histological studies on developmental stages were also reported.