MICROPROPAGATION AND PLANT-REGENERATION IN SESBANIA-ROSTRATA

Shoot formation in calli of Sesbania rostrata was achieved by varying the nutrient composition of the medium, the photoperiod and the amount and the source of plant hormones. Adding hormones to the medium was less effective than causing their production within calli by inoculating with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain 82.139. Time of exposure to the bacterium and number of sub-cultures of inoculated calli affected regeneration frequencies. Both the photoperiod and the mineral constituents of the medium were also critical in achieving maximal regeneration frequencies. Conditions are described for micropropagation of S. rostrata.