Somatic embryogenesis in pigeonpea, Cujunus cajun L.

Somatic cmbryogcnesis was obtained from inlmature leaflet segments, root discs, epicotyl and hypocotyl seg-ments, as well as from mature cotyledons or MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of NAA and BAP. Conversion of somatic embryos to plants was obtai-ned only from the cotyledons. Pigeonpea (Cqjanur cujru ~ L.) is one of the major grain legume crops of the semi-arid tropics and sub tropics. Though plant regeneration has been reported for many rcgumes, thcre are only a few reports on somatic embryogenesis in l e g ~ m c s ~. ~. Somatic embryogene-sis is useful in studies on somaclonal variation, ccll selection for desirable traits, genetic transformation. clonal propagation and production of artificial seeds. The present paper reports somatic embryogenesi