Efficient protocol for in vitro direct plant regeneration in chickpea Cicer arietinum L.

An efficient plant regeneration system was developed for two important Indian chickpea cultivars, C-235 and HC-1. Immature cotyledons (7-8 mm) directly formed shoots without an intervening callus phase on MS medium containing B5 vitamins, BAP (2.0 mg/l), IBA (0.125 mg/l), AgNO3 (1.69 mg/l) and phytagel (2.5 g/l). The regenerated shoots had normal morphology and were successfully rooted in half strength MS medium under partial dark conditions. Regenerated plants were transferred to potted soil. However, the survival rate of pot house transferred plants was 17.6 per cent.

Interspecific hybridization in Brassica juncea and Brassica tournefortii through embryo rescue and their evaluation for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.

Interspecific hybrids were obtained in an otherwise incompatible cross Brassica juncea x Brassica tournefortii through in vitro culture of hybrid embryos. The best response was observed from culture of embryos excised 20 days after pollination on MS medium supplemented with kinetin, alpha-naphthylacetic acid, gibberellic acid, glutamine and casein hydrolysate. One hybrid plant had many distinct or intermediate characters. It was tolerant to aphid attack, exhibited irregularities in meiotic events and was partially fertile. The F2 open pollinated and BC1 progenies showed a large diversity in their morphological traits and some promising plants with less aphid infection, drought tolerance and high yield were selected.