Somatic embryogenesis in Vicia faba L.

The paper describes a method of somatic embryo induction in callus and suspension cultures of Vicia faba L. Callus was induced from immature cotyledons (green maturity stage) of white-flowering horse bean lines cultured on L2 medium (Phillips and Collins 1979) supplemented with 1% sucrose, 0.7% agar and different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The medium with 2.5 M 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was found optimum for embryogenic callus induction. Somatic embryos developed after transfer of the callus to media lower or zero 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and increased level of sucrose (2.5%). The release of somatic embryos from the callus was more apparent after transfer to liquid medium. There were various stages of somatic embryo development, i.e. globular, heart-shaped and torpedo ones.