Somatic Embryogenesis and Biochemical Analysis of In Vitro derived Plants in Mothbean (Vigna aconitifolia Jacq .)

Efficient plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis has been developed in Vigna acontifolia (Jacq.). Leaf explants from 10-day-old seedlings produced embryogenic callus and somatic embryos when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 5 5.0 �M indole-3-butyric acid + 9.3 �M kinetin and 150 mgl-1 adenine sulfate. Subculture of such a callus to MS basal medium supplemented with 9.3 �M kinetin and 10% (v/v) coconut water resulted in the induction and maturation of globular as well as heart shaped embryos. Complete plantlets were produced when the mature embryos were separated and cultured on half strength MS medium without growth regulators. The rooted plantlets were transferred and acclimatized on vermiculate where they showed normal morphological characters. Biochemical analysis of somatic embryo derived plants reaveled optimum peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase activity, phenol and protein contents as compared to control. Therefore, in vitro derived plants exhibit normal development with 100% establishment.