Mass Propagation of Coffee Plants ( L. var. Colombia) through Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis.

is one of the two most consumed coffee species in the world. Micropropagation through somatic embryogenesis has allowed the large-scale propagation of different coffee varieties. However, the regeneration of plants using this technique depends on the genotype. This study aimed to develop a protocol for the regeneration of L. var. Colombia by somatic embryogenesis for its mass propagation. Foliar explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and phytagel for inducing somatic embryogenesis. In total, 90% of the explants formed embryogenic calli with a culture medium containing 2 mg L of 2,4-D, 0.2 mg L BAP, and 2.3 g L phytagel. The highest number of embryos per gram of callus (118.74) was obtained in a culture medium containing 0.5 mg L 2,4-D, 1.1 mg L BAP, and 5.0 g L phytagel. In total, 51% of the globular embryos reached the cotyledonary stage when they were cultured on the growth medium. This medium contained 0.25 mg L BAP, 0.25 mg L indoleacetic acid (IAA), and 5.0 g L of phytagel. The mixture of vermiculite:perlite (3:1) allowed 21% of embryos to become plants.