Description

Abstract: Leaf and cotyledon explants were used to initiate callus cultures using Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium (1992) with 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L kinetin (Narasumbulu and Reddy, 1983) or 4.0 mg/L NAA, 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L BAP (Dong et.al., 1989) in four varieties and three breeding lines of peanut developed at the Institute of Plant Breeding. High frequency (i.e., 93 to 100 percent) callus formation was observed in both explants of all genotypes regardless of the media used. However, less than 50 percent of cotyledon tissues forming calli also exhibited adventitious root formation. Selection of green and friable callus cultures and its regular subculture onto fresh MS medium with 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L kinetin are done every 40 days. Callus cultures of peanut CV UPL Pn2, UPL Pn6, UPL Pn8, and UPL Pn10 have been maintained for at least 6 cycles and will be used in identifying in vitro screening technique for aluminum tolerance. The establishment of efficient plant regeneration systems from established calli and other explants is also in progress