Regeneration of Plants From Protoplasts of Arachis Species (Peanut)

The genus Avachis (Leguminosae), native to South America, contains 30 to 50 species in seven distinct taxonomic sections (Gregory et al. 1973; Gregory and Gregory 1979). Avachis hypogaea L., the cultivated peanut, is one of the most important protein-rich oilseed crops in the world and is cultivated on all the continents throughout the tropical, subtropical, and warmer temperate areas of the earth. Average peanut production increased by 17% from 1979 to 1989 to a total of 19.8×105metric tons even though the average world land area in peanut cultivation remained unchanged (Fletcher et al. 1992).