Refinement of shed-microspore culture protocol to increase normal embryos production in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

A low percentage of normal-looking embryos (20%) is still a problem in an efficient shed-microspore culture of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L) and it is more a serious problem in other androgenesic culture systems of pepper. Therefore, several factors were investigated to refine the protocol in order to increase the percentage of normal-looking embryos. The most important factors which improved the protocol and resulted in a significantly higher percentage of normal-looking embryos produces (>50%), were delayed enrichment of the liquid upper layer medium with 2.5 mu M Zeatin and 5 mu M IAA, and reduced incubation temperature from 28 degrees C to 21 degrees C, both after 3 weeks of culture. Addition of 1% activated charcoal in the solid lower layer of the medium enhanced the total embryo yield only, while an application of abscisic acid and increased osmolality medium had a detrimental effect on embryo production. The use of doubled haploid lines as anther donor plants has clearly decreased the variability and improved the statistical analysis of treatment effects. A higher percentage of normal embryos are produced with this refined protocol, and is therefore more suitable for implementation in the breeding programs of hot pepper. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.