Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from embryogenic callus of soybean, Glycine max L.

During induction of somatic embryogenesis from immature embryos of soybean, a smooth-shiny and a rough callus were obtained. The smooth-shiny type developed from callus derived from cotyledonary tissue and cultured on media containing 10 mg/l 2,4-D. The rough type was derived from immature embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyls and hypocotyl segments from germinated seedlings on a medium containing various growth regulators. Plants were obtained from the smooth-shiny type but rough callus did not differentiate into plants. The conditions for formation of both callus types and regeneration of mature soybean plants from the smooth-shiny type were defined.