Seedling explants of chickpea variety C-235 resulted in multiple shoot regeneration in modified MS media supplemented with 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP). In media withput BAP, explants produced no multiple shoots. A clear orientation effect was demonstrated as maximum multiple shoots were recorded when seedlings explants with excised radicle tip were placed in the media with the pointed end of the seed downward into the media. Besides orientation, age of the explant also played an important role. Increased multiple shoots by BAP was mediated by changes in primary metabolites like increased accumulation of starch, reduced alpha-amylase activity, depletion in nitrogen and protein content. The role of secondary metabolites like phenols and anthocyanin content in multiple shoot induction was also obtained. There was a significant increase in total phenols and anthocyanins from 1 to 14 days after inoculation in BAP containing media. Changes in biochemical parameters were found to be crucial for the induction of multiple shoots
