Abstract
Coconut endosperm has a unique fatty acid profile with a pre-dominance of saturated fatty acids like lauric acid and myristic acid. Manipulation of fatty acid biosynthesis pathways can be possible with in vitro multiplication of endosperm tissue in this important oil yielding perennial palm tree. In this study, influence of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)(blue, yellow and purple colored) was investigated on in vitro initiation and proliferation of coconut endosperm calli. Biomass accumulation, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, free amino acids, total polyphenols and fatty acid profile were estimated from endosperm calli of Gangabondam Green Dwarf (GBGD) cultivar grown under different colored LEDs. Calli grown under dark conditions served as control. Results indicated that initiation of calli was faster under dark conditions, whereas the multiplication and proliferation was significantly high under purple LED. Production of total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, total polyphenols and fat contents were enhanced in cultures under LEDs in comparison to control. Fatty acid profiles, generated through gas chromatography (GC), indicated that medium chain saturated fatty acid content was more, while long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content was less in cultures grown under LEDs compared to cultures under control conditions. It is evident from the results that coconut endosperm calli can be initially initiated under dark conditions and it has the potential to proliferate under LED conditions with significant impact on fatty acid synthesis.