Effect of different explant and hormones on in vitro callus induction and regeneration of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important horticultural crop widely used as fresh vegetable. Developments in plant cell, tissue and organ culture as well as on plant genetic transformation lagged far behind from the other members of the same family such as tobacco, tomato and potato which are frequently used as model systems because of their facility to regenerate organs. Callus was initiated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different combinations of growth regulators. Callus derived from cotyledons was white and friable and showed excellent growth. Different media were tried to initiate callus in two varieties Sujamukhi and Bally. With the increase in auxin (NAA) concentration in the media, callusing response increased particularly at 0.1 and 0.5mg/L concentration of Kn and BAP. MS medium containing MS+2.0mg/ LNAAor NAA+0.5mg/L Kn+5.0mg/L 2,4-D was the best for callus initiation. For shoot induction 0.5mg/L IAA+ 1.0mg/L BAP showed good response.