Primary Somatic Embryos from Axillary Meristems and Immature Leaf Lobes of Selected African Cassava Varieties
Jelili T. Opabode *
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Olufemi O. Oyelakin
Central Biotechnology Laboratory, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria; c/o Lambourn Ltd, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, UK and Biotechnology Center, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Oluyemisi A. Akinyemiju
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Ivan L. Ingelbrecht
Central Biotechnology Laboratory, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria; c/o Lambourn Ltd, Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, UK and Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bio-informatics, Ghent University, K L Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study evaluated high-value African cassava varieties for primary somatic embryogenesis using axillary meristems (AM) and immature leaf lobes (LL) on picloram-based medium. The study was conducted at the Central Biotech Lab, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria between 2006 and 2009. Completely randomized design with four replicates was used for the study. Using LL explants, there were significant (P=.05) differences in percent responding leaf lobes, percent explant with pre-embryogenic structure, PSEF and PSEE among cassava varieties. The PSEF of the only three varieties that produced mature somatic embryo were 93.6, 88.5 and 85.7% for TME 12, Kibaha and Albert, respectively. Similarly, significant (P=.05) differences existed among the varieties in percent enlarged axillary meristem, percent explant with pre-embryogenic structure, PSEF and PSEE when AM was the explant. The PSEFs of the only three varieties that produced mature somatic embryo were 83.6, 77.5 and 72.7% for TME 12, Kibaha and Albert, respectively. The PSEF and PSEE of LL explant were greater than those of AM by an average of 86.1% and 82.7%, respectively. The study concluded that both AM and LL were good explants for production of primary somatic embryo in cassava
Keywords: Axillary meristem, cassava, immature leaf lobe, primary somatic embryogenesis