Shoot regeneration from immature cotyledons of Cicer arietinum

Shoot regeneration was achieved from immature cotyledons of five chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes: C235, ICC4971, ICCI1531, ICC12257 and ICC128 73. The cotyledons cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3 or 5 mg dm(-3) zeatin with or without 0.04 mg dm(-3) indole acetic acid (IAA) showed formation of cotyledon like structures (CLS) at their pro ximal ends. Subsequently, shoot regeneration took place in some of the CLS forming explants. CLS were also formed in cotyledons cultured on MS + 0.2 - 1 mg dm(-3) thidiazuron (TDZ); direct shoot regeneration was observed in c otyledons cultured on I mg dm(-3) TDZ. The shoot buds elongated on media co ntaining indole butyric acid (IBA), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and gibberellic acid (GA(3)). Complete plantlets were obtained by rooting of shoots follow ing pulse treatment with 200 mg dm(-3) IBA for 5 min and culture on growth regulator free half-strength MS medium.