TISSUE CULTURE STUDIES IN VIGNA UNGICULATA L
A. Srujana* and J. Naga Lakshmi
Abstract
Cowpea is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the family Fabaceae
and sub-family, Fabiodeae. Cowpea is often called as "black-eyed
pea" due to its black- or brown- ringed hylum. Vigna is a nutritious
source of food, its grains contain about 25% Protein, especially rich
in folate, potassium, iron, magnesium and the essential amino acids
lysine and tryptophan. It is also used as animal fodder, cover crop and
green manure. Cowpea is often called as "black-eyed pea" due to its
black- or brown-ringed hylum. Vigna originated in West Africa
India, Nigeria accounts for 70% of the world‟s production of cowpea
beans. The plant tissue culture is also proving to be rich and novel
sources of variability with a great potential in crop improvement
without restoring to mutation or hybridization. The plant with long
seed dormancy can be raised faster by in vitro clonal propagation. In the present study
shooting was initiated from nodal and shoot tip explants on MS medium containing BAP
alone used as phytoharmone source. Rooting in the form of organogenesis was obtained from
leaf explants in the presence of NAA alone as phytoharmone.
Keywords: Phytoharmone, Clonal propagation, Organogenesis, Mutation, Hybridization.
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