INCREASED FREQUENCY OF DIVIDING MICROSPORES AND IMPROVED MAINTENANCE OF MULTICELLULAR MICROSPORES OF COFFEA-ARABICA IN MEDIUM WITH COCONUT MILK

The number of dividing microspores of Coffea arabica L. cv. Catuai and Catimor could be drastically increased in microspore media containing 16% (w/v) coconut milk, allowing cell divisions to continue in the microspore and multicellular microspores to survive until day 60. After a cold treatment, the microspores were mechanically isolated prior to cultivation in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with sucrose and maltose and (mg l(-1)) 2,4-D: 2, BAP: 1 or a combination of kinetin: .5, 2,4-D: .5 and NAA: .5 as stationary suspension at a density of 1,200/ml. The crucial stage during microsporogenesis suitable for in vitro androgenesis proved to be mid uninucleate till early binucleate in flowerbuds with the size of 13-15 mm two to three days before anthesis. The initial steps of androgenesis were determined.