Ontogeny of Somatic Embryos of Vigna aconitifolia, Vigna mungo and Vigna radiata

Callus cultures were initiated from immature cotyledons of Vignaaconitifolia, V. mungo and V. radiata on MS medium supplementedwith NAA, picloram or 2, 4-D. On transfer to L-6 liquid mediumsupplemented with low concentrations of picloram, GA₃ and cytokinins,large number of somatic embryos differentiated from the callus.The cells destined to become somatic embryos divided to formspherical or filamentous proembryos. From the filamentous proembryo,the embryo proper developed either at single or multiple sites.Development of somatic embryos from multiple sites resultedin several embryos connected by a common suspensor at the radicleend. Continued divisions of the proembryos led to globular,heart shaped and dicotyledonary stages of somatic embryogenesis.The somatic embryos of V. mungo and V. aconitifolia differentiatedinto tiny plantlets at low frequency (1%) in liquid suspensioncultures supplemented with zeatin, picloram and GA₃. Vigna aconitifolia Jacq, Marechal, mothbean, Vigna mungo L. Hepper, urdbean, Vigna radiata L. Wilczk, mungbean, somatic embryo