Muruganantham, M., Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamilnadu, India, Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Science, Institute for Plant Protection, ARO Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Amutha, S., Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamilnadu, India
Ganapathi, A., Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamilnadu, India

The regeneration of plants via somatic embryogenesis liquid shake culture of embryogenic calluses was achieved in Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (blackgram). The production of embryogenic callus was induced by seeding primary leaf explants of V. mungo onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) (Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962) medium supplemented (optimally) with 1.5 mg/l 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid. The embryogenic callus was then transferred to liquid MS medium supplemented (optimally) with 0.25 mg/l 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid. Globular, heart-shaped, and torpedo-shaped embryos developed in liquid culture. The optimal carbohydrate source for production of somatic embryos was 3% sucrose (compared to glucose, fructose, and maltose). l-Glutamine (20 mg/l) stimulated the production of all somatic embryo stages significantly. Torpedo-shaped embryos were transferred to MS (Physiol Plant 15:473-497, 1962) liquid medium containing 0.5 mg/l abscisic acid to induce the maturation of cotyledonary-stage embryos. Cotyledonary-stage embryos were transferred to 1/2-MS semi-solid basal medium for embryo conversion. Approximately 1-1.5% of the embryos developed into plants. © The Society for In Vitro Biology 2009.