Whole plant regeneration of Cicer arietinum from callus cultures via organogenesis

A protocol for whole plant regeneration of Cicer arietinum L. cv. C-235 via organogenesis from callus has been developed. Callus initiation was best when immature leaflets were cultured on MS medium containing 5 or 25 M 2,4-D or NAA in combination with 10 M BA, or 25 M 2,4-D alone. The callus grew most vigorously on MS medum supplemented with 10 M NAA and 5 MBA. Best shoot differentiation was obtained from calli derived from the basal portion of shoot tips on MS medium supplemented with 10 M BA and 0.1 M IBA. The shoot forming ability of calli was enhanced by adding 5 mM potassium phosphate to the medium. Shoots were rooted on a MS medium containing l M IBA. The regenerated plants were grown to maturity and produced viable seed.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - BA benzyladenine - Kn kinetin - 2-ip 6-(,-dimethylallylamino)-purine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium