Changes in N2 fixation in Stylosanthes scabra derived from tissue culture

plants were regenerated from leaf-derived callus culture of stylosanthes scabra, a polyploid legume tolerant to drought and adapted to acid soils. a total of 168 regenerants were planted out in leonard jars in a complete randomized design. nitrogen fixation and vegetative growth were indirectly evaluated by shoot dry weight, root dry weight, shoot n content and acetylene reduction activity. the results showed higher variation in the regenerants than in controls not submitted to tissue culture. significant differences were found for all nitrogen fixation related-traits