Optimizing regeneration condition in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

In this study, multiple shoot induction and whole plant regeneration from decapitated embryo axes of three chick peal genotypes including MCC252, MCC283 and MCC505 were evaluated on modified Murashige and Skoog's medium (MMS) which, its vitamins were replaced by vitamins of B5 medium, supplemented with varied concentration of thidiazuron (0.1, 0.2 mg L(-1)) or 6-benzylaminopurin (1,2 mg L(-1)) or zeatin (1, 2 mg L(-1)) treatments. BAP was found to be the most effective cytokinin in normal multiple shoot induction. Shoots were elongated on growth regulator-free medium and then rooted on two media containing 1/4 MMS salts and B5 vitamins + 3% sucrose + 0.8% agar with indol-3-butyric acid (0.4 or 1 mg L(-1)). The highest rooting frequency resulted in a medium including 0.4 mg L(-1) IBA. It was found that different shoot induction media also positively affected rooting, where a medium with 2 mg L(-1) BAP in MCC252/MCC505 and a medium with 2 mg L(-1) zeatin in MCC283 were the best media in shoot induction that produced high frequency, thick spread roots. Plantlets were preliminary acclimatized in liquid medium (1/4 MMS salts and B5 vitamins + 3% sucrose + 0.4 mg L(-1) IBA) for 7 to 14 days, then transferred to pots filled by cocopit: perlite (1:1) and kept in a growth chamber until their shoots and roots were well developed. This resulted in more than 70% survival rate.