INDUCTION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOS AND PLANTLET DEVELOPMENT IN CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES OF ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA L

Suspension cultures were initiated from immature leaflet derived callu s of Arachis hypogaea L, in MS liquid medium supplemented with 2,4-D, NAA and BAP, On transfer to MS liquid medium supplemented with differe nt concentrations of 2,4-D, NAA and BAP, large number of somatic embry os differentiated when the suspension was cultured for 7 days in the i nduction medium. The cells destined to become somatic embryos divided to form spherical of filamentous proembryos. The filamentous proembryo developed into different shapes of embryos, Somatic embryogenesis beg an in the proembryo stage and proceeded from globular to dicotyledonar y stage, The somatic embryos developed normal morphogenesis. The frequ ency of somatic embryogenesis was dependent on the genotype and auxin concentration used, Mature plants have been obtained, although the fre quency was low with this procedure, This protocol can be used for prod uction of disease resistant and salt tolerant plants from the selected cell lines.