ABSTRACT
In vitro culture of mature and immature embryos of avocado (Persea americana Mill.)

Narciso N. Rodríguez M.1 Víctor Fuentes F., Olga L. Rodríguez S. y Mario Álvarez B.
 

Immature and mature embryos from different cultivars of avocado (Persea americana MilI.) were cultivated in Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium supplemented whith BA (0,5 mg/L) in one treatment and with BA (0.5 mg/L) and GA3 (0,5 mg/L) in another.
Best results were obtained with immature embryos got from fruits of more than 30 mm long in the medium containing GA3 . Between 3 and 10 shoots/embryo were obtained, from 2 to 5 cm high.
A 30-40% of the shoots developed roots when they were subcultured to a MS basal medium with the addition of 2 mg/L IBA and activated charcoal (0,5%).
Well developed normal plants were obtained when mature embryos, dissected with part of the cotiledon. were subcultured to a Dixon and Fuller (1976) medium without the addition of growth regulators. By adding activated charcoal (0,5%) a better growing up as well as a well structured radical system were warranted.

Keywords:
1 Estación Nacional de Frutales, Carretera de Pestan km. 21/2, Alquízar, La Habana, Cuba.