Canavanine synthesis in thein vitro propagated tissues ofCanavalia lineata

Maximum shoot induction from stem explants ofCanavalia lineata was obtained with an agar-solidified PC medium containing 10 μM benzylaminopurine and 1 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooting of thesein vitro produced shoots was achieved with hormone-free PC medium. Canavanine was produced almost exclusively in the leaves and was not detected in the roots ofin vitro propagatedC. lineata. To exclude the possibility of imminent translocation of canavanine from the root to leaf, adventitious roots were induced from leaf explants in PC medium supplemented with 1 μM kinetin and 20 μM indole-3-acetic acid and subcultured in medium lacking growth regulators, and the roots excised from germinated seedlings were cultured in hormone-free PC medium. All the roots were incapable of accumulation of canavanine. These results suggest that leaves ofC. lineata are the possible site of canavanine synthesis.