SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND PLANT-REGENERATION FROM CALLUS-CULTURE OF ACACIA-CATECHU - A MULTIPURPOSE LEGUMINOUS TREE

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was achieved from callus derived from immature cotyledons of Acacia catechu Willd. on Woody Pla nt Medium (WPM) supplemented with 13.9 mu M kinetin and 2.7 mu M 1-nap hthaleneacetic acid. The addition of 0.9-3.5 mM L-proline to the mediu m influenced development of somatic embryos and also promoted secondar y somatic embryogenesis. The light-green somatic embryos germinated on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2% (w/v) sucrose. Somatic e mbryos germinated into plantlets that were acclimatized in the greenho use and subsequently transferred to the field.