In vitro plant regeneration from the petioles of primary leaves of mungbean Vigna radiata L.

High frequency in vitro plant regeneration via multiple shoots is reported from petioles of leaf explants of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) on B5 culture medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA). The explants comprised of petiole cut at the node bearing the basal half of the lamina. Regeneration frequency varied with age of explant source and concentration of BA. Explants produced shoot-buds and shoots within 2 weeks. The explants harvested from 10-day-old seedlings produced higher number of shoots (8–9) than those from 4-day-old seedlings. Explants consisting of the petiole bearing either the entire lamina or atleast the basal half were more responsive than the explants without lamina. Histological studies confirmed the adventitious nature of shoot-buds. Shoots were rooted on B5 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg 1−1 indolebutyric acid. The plantlets, hardened and transferred to soil with 90% survival developed normal flowers and viable seeds. This efficient plant regeneration protocol can be used for genetic transformation to produce transgenic mungbean.