In vitro plant regeneration in Macroptilium atropurpureum, a legume with a broad symbiont range for nodulation

Macroptilium atropurpureum is a model legume with a broad symbiont range for nodulation. We have achieved the first in vitro plant regeneration of this species using cv. Siratro. Hypocotyl explants excised from dark-grown seedlings generated slimy, friable calli after three weeks' culture on B5 medium containing 1-2 mg/l kinetin and 0.05 mg/l alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid. This was followed by the generation of green organogenic callus with shoot buds by subculturing the explants to hormone-free B5 medium 20 days after the start of culture. The green organogenic calli with shoot buds were maintained as organogenic callus by subculturing on the same medium, and shoots were elongated on hormone-free B5 medium. Elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength B5 medium. Most regenerated plants were morphologically normal, diploid and fertile, although tetraploid plants appeared at a low frequency (8%).