High frequency multiple shoot bud induction from whole cotyledons of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Shoot regeneration through direct organogenesis was attempted from whole cotyledon explants of two local cultivars of chilli, Byadagi Dabbi and Sankeshwar Local. Explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with different levels of benzyl amino purine (BAP) alone (8, 10, 12 mg/l) or in combination with gibberellic acid (GA₃) (1, 2 mg/l). Percent explants showing multiple shoot bud induction was high when 10mg/l BAP (90.20) was used and between the two genotypes Sankeshwar local gave maximum (88.49) response. When number of shoot bud/explants was considered Byadagi Dabbi was found to be better (46 buds/explant) than Sankeshwar local (41 buds/explant). Among the BAP levels tried and across the genotypes, 8 mg/l (50.7) BAP was the best followed by 12 mg/l (44.2 buds/explant) and 10 mg/l (35.8 buds/explant) of BAP. Shoot buds were sub cultured on MS with low levels of BAP (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 mg/l) for elongation and the percent shoot buds responded were very low. MS medium supplemented with 0.05 mg/l BAP (18.8%) showed better response followed by 0.01 mg/l BAP (9.0%). In addition, low levels of IAA or IBA used did not increase the elongation of multiple shoot initials in both the genotypes.