MEENAKSHI SINDHU, ANIL KUMAR, MANISH SAINGER , RANJANA JAIWAL AND DARSHNA CHAUDHARY*
Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : darshnarajan@gmail.com); Mobile : 9467974729
(Received : April 11, 2018; Accepted : June 13, 2018)
ABSTRACT
To develop a reliable and efficient in vitro regeneration protocol of Vigna unguiculata via direct shoot organogenesis using primary leaf explants, the primary leaf (having petiole) explants cut from cowpea seedlings were cultured on MSB5 medium (salts of Murashige and Skoog and vitamins of Gamborg’s medium) in vitro along with different concentrations of BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine). The effect of age of explants and genotype was studied on shoot regeneration potential and shoot number/explant. The regenerated shoots were rooted and established in soil to produce flowers and seeds. The maximum frequency and the shoot number were obtained from primary leaf obtained from 5-d-old seedlings. The total shoot number and frequency of regeneration were found to increase with increase in concentration of BAP up to 2.5 µM and then decreased. From the tested cultivars, V-585 resulted in the maximum shoot number. The plantlets thus obtained were established in pots having sterilized vermiculite and the soil with 80% rate of survival. The direct multiple shoot regeneration protocol using primary leaf has been established for the first time in cowpea
Key words : Cowpea, regeneration, primary leaf, MSB5, BAP, IBA