High Frequency Somatic Embryogenesis And Plantlet Regeneration From Cotyledon Explants Of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan (L.), A Grain Legume

Abstract

Establishment of efficient protocol for the induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from cotyledon explants was achieved in Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) cv ICPL 87119 (Asha). Somatic embryos were induced directly from cotyledon explants on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations of 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, (NAA) Naphthaleneacetic acid, fast  growing, yellowish nodular callus lines containing somatic embryos were established on initiation medium supple mented with 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D, 3.0 mg/L 2,4-5-T and 2.0 mg/L NAA, respectively. Embryo development and well maturation was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 2.0mg/L2,4-D + 1.5mg/L TDZ, 3.0mg/L2,4-D + 2.0 mg/L BAP. The well formed embryos germinated into complete plantlets on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L TDZ and 2.0mg/L NAA (α-Naphthalene acetic acid). The regenerated plants were first transferred to plastic cups and later into pots for maturation, then transferred to soil and grown to maturity with 80%survival and the tissue culture raised plants produced viable seeds.