RESUMO
A method for regeneration of the commercially important common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris ) using N6-benzylaminopurine(BAP) and adenine sulphate (AS) was established. Embryogenic axes of the Costa Rican common bean cultivars Bribrí, Brunca, Guaymí, Huetar and Telire were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 100 mgl-1 myo-inositol, 1 mgl-1 thiamine, 30 gl-1 sucrose, BAP (0, 5 and 10 mgl-1), AS (0, 20 and 40 mgl-1) and 8 gl-1 agar. Regardless of the concentration of BAP and AS in the induction medium, the number of shoots and leaves differed significantly among the common bean cultivars evaluated. The higher average of shoots was obtained for Brunca > Telire > Bribrí > Guaymí > Huetar. Moreover, independently of the cultivar, the induction medium supplemented with 5 mgl-1 BAP and 20 or 40 mgl-1 AS resulted in the higher average of shoots formation. Culture of Bribrí, Brunca, Guaymí, Huetar and Telire embryogenic axes on induction medium supplemented with different BAP and AS resulted in a differential response. Successful acclimatization of common bean in vitro plants were achieved in the greenhouse, and plants appeared morphologically normal. The regeneration system developed in this investigation for this important crop could be a useful tool for the genetic modification through mutagenesis or genetic transformation.