SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND PLANT-REGENERATION FROM LEAFLETS OF PEANUT,ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA

Somatic embryos were induced on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) leaflets fro m aseptically germinated embryo axes. Leaflet size influenced percent somatic embryogenesis; 5-8 mm long cut leaflets were superior to 2-3 m m long uncut leaflets. Maximum embryogenesis of 14.6% was obtained aft er a 15 d incubation on induction medium (modified MS with B5 vitamins , 30 g/l sucrose, 4 g/l Gel-Gro, 40 mg/l 2,4-D + 0.2 mg/l kinetin) fol lowed by transfer to a secondary medium with 5 mg/l 2,4-D + 0.2 mg/l k inetin. Primary somatic embryos were fused along the axes with no dist inct cotyledons, but secondary embryos had single axes with two cotyle dons. Other treatments had lower percent embryogenesis, no secondary e mbryogenesis, and embryos with single axes with two cotyledons. Some s omatic embryos converted into normal plants capable of greenhouse surv ival.