The experiments of this study were carried out at Tissue Culture Research Laboratory, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Central, Malaysia Agriculture Research & Development Institute in order to investigate the response of the coconut (MATAG F2) zygotic embryos under the effect of different concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) and auxin (NAA, 2,4-D), and different segment of zygotic for callus induction and regeneration. A zygotic embryo (Figure 1(a)) was conducted in the laminar flow chamber to reduce the risk of contamination. The laminar flow was cleaned with 70% ethanol before commencing work. The zygotic embryos were removed from the seeds using the scalpel blades and forceps. Zygotic embryos of MATAG coconut were and sterilized by immersion in 50% ethanol for 2 min, then in 1% Vircon for 30 min. This was followed by further sterilization in Clorox (sodium hypochlorite, 5.2%), first with the embryos immersed in 50% Clorox for 40 min, followed by immersion in 10% Clorox for 20 min. After rinsing three times in sterile distilled water, the embryos were cut into three segment and named as top, middle and bottom segment (Figure 1). The segments were immersed in maltose solution at different concentrations with three different times. The explants was immersed in 0.5 M maltose for 30 mins and then treated with 0.05 M maltose for 1 min, followed by 0.01 M maltose for 5 mins. The others treatment of immersion were listed in Table 1. After immersion, the segment then cultured on the specified media and incubated for one month at 26˚C ± 2˚C in dark. The cultured embryos were then observed and the percentage of browning recorded.

The sterilized explants (top, middle and bottom segment) were immersed in 1 M maltose for 60 mins and then treated with 0.05 M maltose for 1 min, followed by 0.01 M maltose for 5 mins. Then, the explants were placed in each 150 ml flask containing 40 mL MS media and respective 2,4-D concentration 0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/L combined with BAP (1.0 and 5.0 mg/L) or NAA (1.0 and 5.0 mg/L ) as listed in Table 2 for callus inintiation. The MS media added with 0.1 g arginine, 0.1 asparagine, 0.1 g glutamine, 3.0% sucrose, 0.3% gelrite agar for gelling. A total of 20 flasks containing 3 sliced zygotic embryos were used for each treatment and repeated twice. Medium sterilization was performed by autoclaving at 121˚C for 15 mins. The medium pH was adjusted to 5.7 - 5.8 before adding agar. Visual growths of callus were recorded after 3 - 4 months in culture.

Zygotic embryos were fixed in a FAA solution for 12 - 24 hours, dehydrated through a series of ethanol solution and embedded in paraffin wax. The specimen were sectioned at 3 - 4 μm and stained with 0.5% (w/v) fast green and 0.25% (w/v) safranin. The stained samples were observed under a light microscope equipped with a camera connecting to the computer system.

All data were calculated by the mean of the twenty individual experiments. Each experiments were designed in CRD (Complete randomized design) which followed by two replicates. All mean data were analyzed by one way ANOVA via SPSS software version 20. Comparisons of the mean data and standard error (S.E) were determined by Turkey’s multiple range tests at P < 0.05 level of significance.

Browning occurring in tissue culture of coconut zygotic embryos restrained the induction and growth of callus and the process of regeneration. In coconut tissue culture, explants browning and subsequent explants death was the first issue need to be overcome. Maltose has demonstrated that phenolic secretion problems reduced when it was added into immersion solution medium. The results showed that maltose can control browning obviously, in which treatment of 1 M, 0.05 and 0.01 M of maltose for 60, 1, and 5 mins, respectively was optimal to prevent browning of explants. In addition, they showed only 20% of browning (Table 1). Application of maltose of 1 M eliminated browning effectively compared to 0.5 M. Culturing of Primula vulgaris in half-strength MS with 0.1 M maltose was limited in browning and callus induction observed [6] . Previous reports have also found maltose to be a better carbon source for regeneration, which supplementation of 4% maltose showed best results for per cent callus induction (90.33%), embryogenic callus formation (57.66%) and shoot regeneration (82.66%) in Japonica Rice Cv. Kitaake [7] . In 1995, Lentini et al. [8] stated that maltose has been described as an agent that may regulate osmotic potential of cellular environment of callus. The use of sucrose might promotes in vitro production of ethylene in excised tissues causing the browning of callus, the substitution of maltose for sucrose could help to protect the calli by reducing the production of ethylene. Similar results that maltose is better sources of carbohydrate in both the subculture and differentiation media were obtained by Lin et al. [9] .

Three zygotic embryos segments (top, middle and bottom) (Figures 1(a)-(e)) were cultured on callus induction medium containing different plant growth regulators named 2,4-D, BAP and NAA. Histology analysis was done on the segment. Middle segment showed clear and more cambium, which this cambium are merestimatic cells (Figure 1(f)). The cell has potential to be dedifferentiated and become callus. Feher et al. [10] reported that meristematic cells have to be dedifferentiated and their cell division cycle has to be activated during

the transition. Similar clarification were also reported in other monocot species of Curcuma longa [11] , Cocus nucifera [12] , Phoenix dactylifera [13] and Elaeis guineensis [14] .

Among different plant growth regulators tested, optimum callus was observed on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (20 mg/L) combine with BAP (5 mg/L) (Table 2) after 3 - 4 months in culture. Middle segment showed better response in callus induction compared to other part. A decrease in callus induction was observed when 2,4-D was used in combination with different concentrations of NAA. Callus induction was found to increase with increase in the concentration of 2,4-D. Finding by Tahir et al. [15] , indicated that percentage of callus formation by adding 2,4-D at 4.0 g/L gave the best result followed by 3.5 mg/L in Saccharum officinarum. As Yusnita and Dwi Hapsoro [16] had done with oil palm using a combination of 100 mg/L 2,4-D with activated charcoal led to higher percentage of callus induction after 7 months of incubation. In addition, the treatment of 2,4-D alone at 3.3 mg/L also resulted in the highest percentage of callus induction.

After within 7 months, with subculture interval of two months, all bottom segment become single shoot where treatment of 20 mg/l 2,4-D and 1 mg/l BAP showed highest in number of shoot at average 1.2# (Figures 1(m)-(k)). Similar result was observed for the middle segment, 0.8 averages of shoots produced when cultured on this medium. The frequency of root response was greatly influenced by type of segment with plant growth regulator concentration and the best results achieved at 20 g/L 2,4-D and 1 g/L of BAP supplemented. The maximum number of roots was recorded at 21# from the middle segment. More roots generated after sub-cultured and placed into light condition (Figure 1(q), Figure 1(o)). Middle segment is the best for callus induction and regeneration

*? No callus, + growth almost retarded, ++ slow growth and browning, ++ Poor callus, +++ Moderate callus. Data represent means of ten replicates.

become root segment and there was some root turned browning However, only single shoot observe for this treatment. No shoot obtained from the top segment of embryos and most of them became cork-like structure (Figure 1(r)).