CULTIVAR DIFFERENCES IN SHOOT-FORMING CAPACITY OF HYPOCOTYL TISSUES OF CHILLI PEPPER (CAPSICUM-ANNUUM-L) CULTURED INVITRO

Cultured hypocotyl segments of 16 cultivars of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were tested for their ability to form adventitious shoots. Explants were grown on six culture media prepared with the basal medium formulated by Murashige and Skoog, supplemented with four combinations of indoleacetic acid (IAA)/benzyladenine (BA) or with three combinations of IAA/2-isopentenyladenine (2iP). Cultivar differences were observed with regard to their capacity for in vitro differentiation of shoots and approximately one-third ( 5 16) of the cultivars tested exhibited relatively high differentiation capabilities (determined by the number of shoots per explant and by the frequency of shoot formation). Optimal shoot regeneration medium varied with cultivar. Cultivar 'Anaheim TMR-23' displayed the highest shoot-regeneration response. © 1990.