APICAL SHOOT MERISTEM CULTURE IN RED-PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L)

A protocol has been developed to obtain whole plants from apical shoot meristems of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Bhivapuri), susceptible to viral infections. The meristems (approximately 0.8 mm long), from aseptically grown seedlings (one-month-old), cultured on filter paper bridge in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg/l benzylaminopurine produced multiple shoots (5-7 per explant). The differentiated shoots developed further upon transfer to agar-solidified medium. Complete plantlets were obtained after rooting of shoots on MS medium fortified with 1 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid.