IN-VITRO REGENERATION IN CHILE PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L) FROM HALF-SEED EXPLANTS

An in vitro regeneration protocol has been developed from 'half-seed e xplants' of a mild (cv. New Mexico-6) and a pungent (cv. Rajpur Hirapu r) chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L). Imbibed seeds were cut into two p arts such that one portion contained the cotyledons and a part of the hypocotyl (part A) while the other part had the proximal part of the h ypocotyl and the radicle (part B). These explants were cultured on MS medium with or without cytokinins (KIN, BA, ZEA, 2iP). Cytokinins dram atically increased both the percentage of explants forming buds as wel l as the number of buds per explant, and also hastened the rate of bud production. The relative efficacy of cytokinins in inducing the forma tion of leafy buds varied in the two cultivars. However, the best resp onse was observed with ZEA in both cultivars. The highest percentage o f bud formation was recorded after presoaking part B explants for 72 h ours. The elongation growth of leafy buds was severely inhibited in th e continuous presence of high concentrations of cytokinins, and freque ntly the buds became quite thick, ill-defined and vitreous. Within 3-5 weeks of transfer to Magenta boxes containing vermiculite and soil (1 :3), 70-85% of the rooted hypocotyls developed 1-2 elongated shoots. F ollowing transfer to pots, these plantlets grew into normal plants.