Plant Regeneration from Pea Leaflets Cultured in vitro and Genetic Stability of Regenerants.

Bud and shoot formation and regeneration of complete plants have been achieved with immature and mature leaflets, at various frequency, under the influence of a range of cytokinin and auxin combinations. Immature leaflets, 0.9 to 1.8 mm in length, produced shoots in 26 to 38% explants on a medium containing 10.0 μM BA and NAA, IBA or IAA. A reduction in the frequency of bud and shoot regeneration to 7% in the presence of 10.0 μM each of BA + NAA was observed with mature leaflets. In the differentiation of buds and shoots, no stimulating effect of GA(3) has been observed. Combinations of cytokinins with picloram and 2,4-D suppressed organogenesis. Plant regeneration was influenced by genotype and temperatures. Seed-derived progeny of regenerants contained the normal diploid number of chromosomes (2n = 14). Analysis of four isozymes, esterase, GDH, 6-PGD, and LAP, as well as nine genetically defined morphological characters indicated retention of genetic stability in the progeny of tisssue culture propagules.