In vitro morphogenesis and plant regeneration response from hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivar Punjab Guchhedar

Abstract

An efficient and reproducible in vitro plant regeneration protocol was developed in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Punjab Guchhedar. Effects of explant type, age and plant growth regulators were investigated on direct shoot regeneration. The explants viz., cotyledon and cotyledonary node of ages 8, 16, 24 and 32-days were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with cytokinins and auxins. The highest shoot regeneration was obtained from 24-day-old cotyledons cultured on MS basal medium containing 9.5 mg l-1 BAP, 3.0 mg l-1 Kin and 1.0 mg l-1 IAA. The frequency of shoot induction varied according to the age of explant and ratio of growth regulators. It is also observed that the effect of BAP was more pronounced for regeneration in hot pepper. Maximum number of shoots (11.75 per explant) was obtained on 24-day-old cotyledon explant on the same medium. Root induction was obtained on half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l-1 IBA. Four-week-old rooted plantlets were hardened and transferred to pots.