Callus induction and shoot regeneration of <i>Phaseolus lunatus</i> L. cv. Wonder Bush and cv. Pole Sieva

We report the first protocol for callus induction and shoot regeneration for Phaseolus lunatus L. cv. Wonder Bush and cv. Pole Sieva. We used different explants viz., epicotyls, cotyledons and hypocotyls. The medium used was MS basal medium with thidiazuron (0.5 mg l −1 ) and IAA (0.05 mg l −1 ) for the induction of callus followed by BAP (1.0 mg l −1 ) for the induction of shoots. Epicotyl explants showed the fastest response and the highest percentage of shoot regeneration. This protocol opens new biotechnological strategies to transfer economically important genes to this important crop species.