The influence of triacontanol (TRIA)
concentration and its interaction with indole-3-
acetic acid (IAA) on direct somatic embryogenesis
(DSE) of Coffea arabica L. cvs Caturra and
Catuaí was determined. Additionally, light
conditions and culture medium consistency
(semisolid vs. liquid) were evaluated. A higher
average of somatic embryos per explant from
Caturra (3.9±0.5) and Catuaí (3.6±0.5) leaves
was obtained when 4.55 µM TRIA was added
to the half-strength Murashige and Skoog
(1962) medium supplemented with 1.1 µM
benzilaminopurine (BAP) and 2.85 µM IAA.
In relation to medium consistency, the highest
number of embryoids in Caturra (3.2±0.2)
and Catuaí (6.0±0.4) explants was obtained
using Yasuda et al. (1985) semisolid medium.
Regarding photoperiod, the number of embryoids
per explant obtained for Catuaí cultured under a
16 h light photoperiod was 7.6±1.0 and in the
dark 6.2±0.6. In Caturra, 4.2±0.4 embryoids
were produced in the dark and 3.8±0.5 with 16
h light. No somatic embryos were observed in
Caturra and Catuaí explants after 12 weeks of
culture in liquid Yasuda et al. (1985) medium,
and under any of the light condition