Somatic embryogenesis in habanero pepper (C. chinense Jacq.) from cell suspensions

exico Additional index words. Somatic embryogenesis, thidiazuron, cells in suspension, Capsicum Abstract. To induce the somatic embryogenesis of Habanero pepper, different culture media and different types of explants (node, internode, hypocotyl, half seeds, and fruit segments) were evaluated. For the induction of embryogenic callus, 9.05 mM of 2,4-dichlorofenoxiacetic acid, 3% sucrose, and 0.8% gelrite were added to the basic MS medium over a period of 30 days at 25 ± 2 8C under continuous light (40-50 mmolm 2 s -1 ). Once the callus formed, they were transferred to liquid medium using the same induction formulation. Somatic embryogenesis only occurred from explants of hypocotyl and in the presence of 3.4 mM thidiazuron. This constitutes the first proposal of a protocol for the ''induction of somatic embryogenesis in Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) from cell suspensions.''