Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained from immature leaflet callus of chickpea. Numerous globular embryos developed on the surface of callus on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium containing 25 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. These globular embryos differentiated into mature somatic embryos upon removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The maturation of embryos was significantly affected by pH, photoperiod, abscisic acid and genotype. Callus continued to produce somatic embryos for over 8 subcultures at 4 week intervals. Two per cent of the embryos formed plants on medium containing 15 μM gibberellic acid and 1 μM indole-3-butyric acid. Desiccation of embryos for a period of 3 d increased their rate of conversion into plants from 0.9 to 2.8%. All regenerated plants showed normal morphological characteristics.

Axillary shoot induction and plant regeneration were obtained in Plantago ovata. The optimum medium for inducing axillary shoots was Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium [5] supplemented with 4.6/~M kinetin and 0.05/IM NAA. Rooting of shoots was best on halfstrength MS medium containing 5.0/~M IBA and 0.05 #M kinetin. The regenerated plants were similar to the control plants in karyotypic and phenotypic details.

A protocol for whole plant regeneration of Cicer arietinum L. cv. C-235 via organogenesis from callus has been developed. Callus initiation was best when immature leaflets were cultured on MS medium containing 5 or 25 μM 2,4-D or NAA in combination with 10 μM BA, or 25 μM 2,4-D alone. The callus grew most vigorously on MS medum supplemented with 10 μM NAA and 5 μMBA. Best shoot differentiation was obtained from calli derived from the basal portion of shoot tips on MS medium supplemented with 10 μM BA and 0.1 μM IBA. The shoot forming ability of calli was enhanced by adding 5 mM potassium phosphate to the medium. Shoots were rooted on a MS medium containing l μM IBA. The regenerated plants were grown to maturity and produced viable seed.

Callus cultures were established from pith tissue of Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem. on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 9.05 mM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2.3 mM kinetin. Highest shoot regeneration frequency was observed on a medium containing 6.9 mM kinetin and 2.3 mM 2,4-D under 30 mE m Ϫ2 s Ϫ1 light intensity with a 16-h photoperiod. Calluses retained organogenic potential throughout several passages of subculture (18 mo.). Shoots were rooted on MS medium without plant growth regulators. All (100%) plantlets transplanted to soil survived acclimatization. Regenerated plants showed good overall growth and were morphologically similar to the mother plants.

A method for adventitious shoot induction from petiole explants of Heracleum candicans is reported. Shoot buds were induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4.4 mM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1.1 mM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A wound response in the presence of BA and 2,4-D at the time of culture was necessary for inducing shoot buds. The shoot bud regeneration was significantly influenced by size, type and orientation of explants on the culture medium. These shoot buds developed into 4 -5 cm shoots upon transfer to a medium containing 1.1 mM BA and 0.5 mM anaphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The regenerated shoots formed rooted plantlets on MS medium supplemented with 4.9 mM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). About 15 plants were established in the field for further evaluation.