SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN PEANUT - INFLUENCE OF GROWTH-REGULATORS AND SUGARS

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were induced from immatur e embryonal axes and immature cotyledons of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L . fastigata type cv JLM-1). Influence of different auxins, cytokinins and sugars on somatic embryogenesis from immature cotyledon explants w as also investigated. Among tho different auxins tested, 2,4-dichlorop henoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was most effective, producing the highest fr equency of responding cultures and highest average number of somatic e mbryos per responding culture, while dicamba, picloram, indolepropioni c acid, alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid and alpha-naphthoxyacetic acid were also effective for embryogene sis. Indolebutyric acid, indoleacetic acid, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and trichiorophenoxyacetic acid were not beneficial. Among the four c ytokinins tested, zeatin slightly enhanced the frequency of somatic em bryogenesis, while kinetin, 6-gamma-gamma-dimethylallylaminopurine and benzyladenine were relatively inhibitory. Among the different carbon sources tested, sucrose was the best for embryo induction and at 6% su crose the highest frequency of responding cultures and average number of somatic embryos per explant were obtained. For inducing embryogenes is from embryonal axes, 2,4-D was more effective than picloram. Highes t plant conversion frequency from somatic embryos was obtained in pres ence of dicamba or NAA and using cotyledon explants.