Efficient in vitro propagation from preconditioned embryonic axes of Turkish cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) cultivar Akkiz

Abstract

Cowpea is an important grain legume crop. The study reports an efficient in vitro multiplication and shoots regeneration protocol from preconditioned embryonic axes of the Turkish cowpea cultivar Akkiz. The embryonic axes were preconditioned with 10 mg/l BA on agar solidified MS medium for 5 days. Thereafter they were cultured on MS medium containing 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mg/l BA with or without 0.10 mg/l NAA. Mean frequency (%) of shoot regeneration, number of shoots per explant and shoot length decreased with each increase in BA concentration used singly. However, a positive increase was recorded in all parameters in the presence of 0.10 mg/l NAA in the regeneration medium. A maximum mean number of 10.33 shoots per explant was recorded on an MS medium containing 1.00 mg/l BA -0.1 mg/l NAA. Regenerated shoots were rooted on an MS medium containing 0.50 mg/l IBA. Rooted plants were acclimatized at room temperature in soil mix contained in pots where they were subjected to an intermittent mistwater spray for 24 h that maintained 90% relative humidity during the first few days which was gradually reduced to 40% for 10 days. All plants flowered and set seeds in a greenhouse after 3 months.