Factors affecting in vitro flowering and fruiting of green pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Multiple shoots were efficiently regenerated from cotyledonary node and sho ot tip explants of Pisum sativum within 15 days on MS medium containing B-5 vitamins and supplelmented with 2.0 mgl(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine. The elong ated shoots produced on the same medium were excised and transferred to MS medium containing half strength ammonium nitrate (8.25 gml(-1)) and supplem ented with auxins (indole-3-butyric acid or naphthalene acetic acid) either alone or in combinations with gibberellic acid. Rooting and flowering were observed on the 7th and 15th day after their transfer to rooting medium. T he flowers self-fertilised in vitro and produced mature pods within 25 days of rooting. These seeds were germinable both in vitro and in vivo. In vitr o seeds sown in pots under field conditions developed into flowering plants , and subsequently produced pods with viable seeds.