Callus induction from protoplasts of V. unguiculata, V. sublobata and V. mungo.

Protoplasts were isolated from hypocotyl of V. mungo (L.) Hepper or hypocotyl-derived callus of V. sublobata (Phaseolus sublobata Roxb.) and V. unguiculata (L.) Walp (syn. V. sinensis (L.) Saviex Hassk) using an enzyme solution comprising Cellulase 2.5%, Macerozyme, Hemicellulase and Driselase each at a 0.5% level in 0.5 M sorbitol. Isolated protoplasts were cultured in Murashige and Skoog's (1962) basal liquid medium supplemented with BA, NAA, 2,4-D (1 mg/l each) and sucrose (14%). After four weeks, protoplast colonies were transferred to the same medium with a reduced level of sucrose (7%). Colonies proliferated into actively growing calli. Further attempts to regenerate plants from such calli were not successful. However, protoclones of V. unguiculata differentiated roots on auxin/cytokinin supplemented media. Alternative methods for shoot differentiation from protoplastderived cultures were tried by the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens "shooter" strains pGV 2215 or pGV 2298 or wild type strain B6S3.