High Efficiency Organogenesis in Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Tissues from Different Seedling Explants

In vitro plant regeneration was achieved from eightsweet pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.). The effect ofvarious explant types (cotyledons, leaves, cotyledonary nodes and shoot-tip from25-day-old seedlings and embryonic cotyledons, embryonic hypocotyls and woundedseedlings) on bud and shoot regeneration and shoot elongation was evaluated.Differences in ability for in vitro shoot regeneration andelongation depended on the variety and explant type. In general, highregeneration frequency was obtained from all varieties. Agridulcedisplayed the highest regeneration response: an average of 3.45 elongated shootsper explant using embryonic cotyledons. Elongated shoots were excised and rootedon Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium either without plant growth regulatorsor with 0.5 IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) or 0.05 NAA (-naphthaleneacetic acid). Plantlets weretransplanted to soil and acclimatised in the greenhouse showing normaldevelopment and growing to maturity bearing normal fruits with seeds.