Thidiazuron Induced Multiple Shoot Formation in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L)

Thidiazuron (TDZ), a substituted urea with cytokinin-like activity stimulated shoot proliferation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L). Embryonic axis with half portion of both cotyledons was more responsive explant, producing ∼22 shoots/explant at 1.0 μM TDZ concentration but higher concentration of TDZ (5.0 μM) reduced both the shoot proliferation and growth. An incubation time of 12 h at 1.0 μMTDZ was sufficient for induction of multiple shoot formation.TD2 induced high frequency of shoot formation as compared to BAP and also minor salts of MS medium played an important role in increasing the number of shoots. Roots could be induced in these shoots in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μM IBA.