INDUCTION OF DIRECT SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND PLANT-REGENERATION IN PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L)

Pepper (cv. New Mexico - 6 and Rajur Hirapur) plants were regenerated from immature zygotic embryos via direct somatic embryogenesis, Somati c embryos were formed directly, without any intervening callus, on the zygotic embryo apex, embryo axis anti cotyledons on Murashige and Sko og's (MS) medium containing 2,4-D (4-18 mu M), thidiazuron (10 mu M) a nti a high concentration of sucrose (6-10%). ?he best response was obs erved on MS medium containing 2,4-D (9 mu M), coconut water (10%) anti high sucrose (8%). The entire process of induction anti maturation of the embryos was completed on the same medium. Histological examinatio n indicated that secondary embryogenesis also occurred directly from t he primary somatic embryos. Differentiation of embryos was nonsynchron ous and some embryos were swollen anti distorted with fasciation. Mote than 70% of the mature normal somatic embryos germinated readily on M S medium containing GA, or TDZ, alone and in combination, anti followi ng transfer to pots developed into normal plants.