Morphological alterations in sterile mutant of Pisum sativum obtained via somatic embryogenesis

A sterile mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L. line HM-6) with a number of morphological alterations was found after plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was derived from the whole immature zygotic embryo on medium with 2.26 mu M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Morphological changes included altered leaflet shape, one pair of leaflets only, altered stipule morphology, shortened internodia, irregular or opposite leaf position on the stem, shortened flower stalk, and aborted flowers resulting in complete sterility. If the isolation of the shoot apex and axillary buds from evidently sterile plant and their culture in vitro resulted in morphologically normal and fertile regenerated plants, the chimaeric nature of R-0 mutant is considered.