Plant regeneration from cotyledonary node explants of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Sexually-mature mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) plants were efficiently regenerated from cotyledonary node explants. The explants were capable of directly developing multiple shoots on basal media devoid of any growth regulators. The shoot multiplication was influenced by media composition, growth regulators, age of donor seedling and explant type. The explants with both the cotyledons attached to the embryonic axis excised from 4-d-old seedlings, produced the highest number of shoots (5 or 6) in 100% of the cultures within 2 weeks on B5 basal medium (BBM) containing BAP or 2-iP, respectively, (at 5x10(-7)M) and 3% sucrose. Shoots elongated and developed better using BAP. Increasing micronutrients, carbohydrate and nitrogen levels in the medium above the original formulation of B5 basal medium appeared to be of no benefit for increasing the number of shoots. The shoots were rooted on basal MS medium or MS containing 10(-6) of NAA, IAA or IBA. This protocol was found applicable to six other cultivars of mungbean. One hundred rooted shoots were successfully established in soil in the glasshouse, where 90% of them survived. The regenerated plants flowered precociously, but produced normal pods and viable seeds.