In vitro high frequency plant regeneration of a tree legume Tamarindus indica (L.).

Optimal culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration from excised cotyledons of Tamarindus indica were established. Maximum shoot bud differentiation (100%) occurred when the adaxial surface of the entire cotyledon (excised from 12-d old seedlings) was in contact with MS medium containing 5×10(-6)M BAP. On MS alone only roots were formed. Shoot or root formation was confined to nodal tissue at the top of the notch present on the adaxial surface at the proximal end of the cotyledon. Thirty-four to 95 shoots were regenerated in a 4 month period from individual cotyledons. Shoots were rooted on MS with 5.7×10(-6)M IAA. IAA (5.7×10(-7)M) alone induced complete plant formation. Regenerated plants were established in the soil with 70% success.