Callus Induction of Fig (Ficus carica cv. Violette de Soillès) via Thin Cell Layer Technique

Abstract

Ficus carica L. is a fruit-bearing fig plant belonging to the Moraceae family. The fig fruit is known for its health benefits with high levels of fibre, vitamins, sugars and minerals. The leaves are also used for diabetes, cholesterol reduction and skin disorders. Previous reports have documented on the different in vitro callus induction methods of F. carica via plant tissue culture. Thin cell layer (TCL) has been previously established for the micropropagation of many plant species, utilising thin sections of explants in this method to induce callus. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the TCL technique in the callus induction of F. carica cv. Violette de Soillès. Stem explants with a diameter of 3.0 to 4.0 mm were excised into the thickness of approximately 0.5 to 0.8 mm and inoculated on MS media supplemented with BAP and NAA at different concentrations. The results indicated that MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA, and 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L NAA induced the highest amount of semi-friable callus with 100% callus induction rate. The current study reported on the induction of callus from the Violette de Soillès cultivar via TCL, which in future, can be explored for shoot organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis and cell suspension culture.