In vitro regeneration through organogenesis in Egyptian chickpea

Abstract

Genetic engineering for improvement of the recalcitrant crop chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was largely restricted by the lack of an efficient regeneration system. In vitro regeneration in two Egyptian chickpea varieties, Giza 531 and Giza 4 was achieved by direct organogenesis. A variety of embryo explants and different types and concentrations of growth regulators were investigated for maximum efficiency of shoot and root regeneration. Embryo axes with the adjacent part of cotyledon proved to be the most promising type of explant for shooting and rooting responses. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were found to induce the highest percentages of shoot initiation and root formation, respectively. Although the Giza 531 variety produced a better response than the Giza 4 for shoot formation, it displayed lower performance for root induction. It would be rewarding if this optimized regeneration protocol paved the way toward the genetic improvement of the Egyptian chickpea.

Keywords:

• Cicer arietinum L.
• direct organogenesis
• growth regulators
• shoot induction
• rooting

Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly thankful for Italian National Research Council (CNR), Italy-National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt 2016-2017 Bilateral research Project "Cicer arietinum ancient varieties in Egypt: exploiting associated pathogens and modern defense strategies" for supporting this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.