EN
Shoot regeneration in five pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars (Atlas, Avola, Karina, Mali provansalac and Tristar) was achieved by direct culture of mature seeds on MSB5 medium supplemented with either N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), N-phenyl-N’(-l,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea (thidiazuron, TDZ) or N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N’-phenylurea (forchlorfenuron, CPPU). Multiple shoots formed de novo without an intermediary callus phase at the cotyledonary notch, in the axillary meristem regions of the seedlings, and in the hypocotyl subepidermal tissues within two to three weeks of culture initiation. Bud formation began after 5 to 7 days of treatment and the number of buds increased with the duration of culture and increasing concentration of growth regulators. Transient exposure to plant growth regulators (24-28 h) was sufficient to induce bud formation. CPPU was the most effective and BAP the least effective for the induction of regeneration. Separated shoots (1-2 cm) were rooted (60%) on MSB5 medium supplemented with 1.1 µM indole-3- acetic acid (IAA) and 2.0 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and developed into flowering plants.