Comparison of morphogenic ability of callus types induced from different explants of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

The separate experments were conducted for immature embryonic axes, inunature cotyledon, mature cotyledon, hypocotyl and leaf disc cultures with eleven soybean genotypes. For each explant culture, at least three different fortifications of basal MS medium were used. Various cultured explants initiated mainly four types of calli: a Undifferentiated callus cultures which were cream in colour and soft friable in texture; b. Compact dark green in colour with few or many bead like structures; c. Compact dark green with few or many dark green bead like structures and some times partially covered with a thin layer of white loose callus, and d. Mixture of creamy white and light green calli which was dense and glossy in texture. Culture media played an imperative role in the formation of embryogenic calli. Hypocotyl followed by mature cotyledon proved to be the superior explants for somatic embryogenesis and rpature cotyledons for plantlet regeneration.