EFFECT OF GA3 ON QUALITY OF SHOOTS PRODUCTION IN VITRO OF DATE PALM (Phoenix Dactylifera L.)

The study was conducted to determine the possibility of utilizing GA3 to produce healthy in vitro date palm shoots in short period of time. Previous research had shown the importance of shoot morphological conditions for proper future in vitro rooting. Different shoot regenerations and morphological patterns were observed under the various GA3 concentrations. Mean shoot regeneration and elongation was highest on medium containing high GA3 concentrations. The quality of those shoots, however, was very poor as they were extremely thin and probably incapable of proper in vitro rooting. GA3 concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ l in the media produced shoots of good quality with proper elongation and relatively thicker and stout appearance. The efficiency of such shoots to produce in vitro plants with good roots are likely high. The capacity of GA3 to improve plant growth by cell elongation and enlargement is well documented in the literature. The exact concentration of the hormone to be used for proper improvement of shoot, however, needs to be determined since plant species and stages of shoot growth differ in their hormonal requirements.