SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN PEANUT - INFLUENCE OF GROWTH-REGULATORS AND SUGARS

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were induced from immature embryonal axes and immature cotyledons of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. fastigata type cv JLM-1). Influence of different auxins, cytokinins and sugars on somatic embryogenesis from immature cotyledon explants was also investigated. Among tho different auxins tested, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was most effective, producing the highest frequency of responding cultures and highest average number of somatic embryos per responding culture, while dicamba, picloram, indolepropionic acid, alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid and alpha-naphthoxyacetic acid were also effective for embryogenesis. Indolebutyric acid, indoleacetic acid, p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and trichiorophenoxyacetic acid were not beneficial. Among the four cytokinins tested, zeatin slightly enhanced the frequency of somatic embryogenesis, while kinetin, 6-gamma-gamma-dimethylallylaminopurine and benzyladenine were relatively inhibitory. Among the different carbon sources tested, sucrose was the best for embryo induction and at 6% sucrose the highest frequency of responding cultures and average number of somatic embryos per explant were obtained. For inducing embryogenesis from embryonal axes, 2,4-D was more effective than picloram. Highest plant conversion frequency from somatic embryos was obtained in presence of dicamba or NAA and using cotyledon explants.