Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Cultured Leaf Explants of Zea mays

Young leaf segments of Zea mays L. seedlings were cultured onMurashige and Skoog's basal nutrient medium supplemented with2 mg l^–1 2, 4-D and sub-cultured on medium containing8 mg l^–1 2,4-D. Two types of callus tissues appeared—embryogenicand non-embryogenic. The embryogenic callus tissue producednumerous somatic embryos which on transfer to media containinglow amounts of 2,4-D or ABA produced plantlets. Callus tissuesexhibited embryogenic potential for more than 1 year. Zea mays L. cv. Ageti-76, Zea mays L. cv. N-L-D-Comp., maize, leaf, callus, somatic embryogenesis, regeneration