High frequency <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lathyrus sativus</Emphasis> L.

A simple and efficient protocol for high frequency plant regeneration of a grain legume grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is described. Of different explant types tested epicotyl segments were most responsive. Murashige and Skoog’s (1962) medium augmented with 17.76 µM 6-benzyladenine + 10.74 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid showed the highest percentage of direct shoot regeneration. Among cultivars IC-120487 showed the highest regeneration frequency (80 %) with maximum shoot numbers (8.2 shoots per explant) and maximum average shoot length (4.1 cm). About 78 % of the regenerated shoots were rooted in half-strength MS medium containing 2.85 µM indole-3-acetic acid. After primary hardening the plantlets were established in soil with a survival rate of 75 %.