Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from cotyledonary explants of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilezek.]—A recalcitrant grain legume

This study reports a protocol for plant regeneration from cultured explants of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilezek] via somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryos were induced from nature cotyledons of var., TAP-7 and Pusa Baisaki when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid singly or in combination with 2.22–8.88 μM N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or 2.32–9.38 μM kinetin. The type and concentration of auxin and plant genotype influenced the frequency of somatic embryogenesis. NAA was the most effective auxin for somatic embryo induction. The well-developed, cotyledonary shaped embryos of var. TAP-7 germinated into plantlets at a frequency of 56.6% on MS medium supplemented with 1.88 μM abscisic acid and 6.66 μM BAP. Regenerated plants were transferred to soil and grown to maturity with 90% survival. The protocol described here offers a good potential for genetic improvement using gene transfer techniques and the production of synthetic seeds of V. radiata.