Abstract
Date palm is one of the oldest fruit crops grown for the commercial production of dates and is widely grown as an ornamental plant due to its foliage and attractive growth habit. The study reports a protocol for protoplast isolation from embryogenic cell suspensions, callus induction, somatic embryogenesis, and shoots formation from protoplasts of Taquerbucht, Teggaza, and Deglet Nour cultivars. In the cultivars researched, the protoplast yield ranged from 4.99 x 10(6) to 5.87 x 10(6) protoplasts g(-1) in response to the enzymatic solution, which consisted of 2% Cellulase Onozuka RS and 6% hemicellulase combination after 24 h incubation without agitation. However, protoplast yield was further enhanced when this enzymatic solution was used with 45 min stirring and 10 h incubation (5.03 x 10(6) protoplasts g(-1) in 'Deglet Nour', 5.8 x 10(6) protoplasts g(-1) in 'Taquerbuchf , and 6 x 10(6) protoplasts g(-1) in 'Teggaza'. Cultured protoplasts showed first cell division within 10 days forming microcalluses, which consecutively developed into white embryogenic callus, induced proembryos within 2-3 months, somatic embryos within 4-6 months, and then, produced plantlets (2-4 cm) within 8 to 12 months.