Effect of genotype, explant and medium on in vitro regeneration of red pepper

In vitro plant regeneration was achieved in Capsicum praetermissum, C. baccatum and C. annuum cvs. G4, Bhiwapuri Sweet pepper, Cayenne pepper and Hybrid pepper. Shoots were induced from hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5.7 mu M indoleacetic acid (IAA) + 13.3 mu M benzyladenine (BA); 22 mu M BA; and 44 mu M BA. Analysis of variance revealed that the most significant effect on shoot regeneration was due to the explant and it accounted for 56.3% of total variation observed. The genotype X explant effect on regeneration was minor relative to all other 2- and 3-way interactions because leaf explants consistently regenerated more shoots than hypocotyls or cotyledons in all the genotypes and thereby reduced the variation among the genotypes. Explant X medium interaction revealed that 22 mu M BA was the best growth regulator supplement in regeneration medium for optimal shoot regeneration from leaf explants. Rooting of regenerated shoots was achieved on 5.7 mu M IAA-containing medium, and the rooting response was better from shoots induced on medium fortified with 5.7 mu M IAA plus 13.3 mu M BA. Complete plantlets with diploid chromosome number (2n=2x=24) were transferred to soil and 60-70% of these plantlets survived and grew well.