In vitro meristem culture of the coffee tree; the formation of the shoots

Two types of meristems were taken from the orthotropic and plagiotrophic branches of Coffea arabica and C. canephora for in vitro cultivation. These meristem samples were cultivated on two types of media suitable for the production of shoots. The parameters under study included the percentage of contamination plus mortality and the formation of the shoots, i.e. shoot length and the number and length of the leaves. The meristems taken from the orthotropic branches grow more vigorously than those taken from the plagiotropic branches. The apical meristems grow more vigorously than the axillary meristems. Coffea arabica showed a generally greater growth of the above-ground part than did the C. canephora