Apical Shoot Meristem Culture in Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

A protocol has been developed to obtain whole plants from apical shoot merislems of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Bhivapuri), susceptible to viral infections. The meristems (∼ 0.8 mm long), from aseptically grown seedlings (one-month-old), cultured on filter paper bridge in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg/l benzylamin-opurine produced multiple shoots (5–7 per explant). The differentiated shoots developed further upon transfer to agar-solidified medium. Complete ptantlets were obtained after rooting of shoots on MS medium fortified with 1 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid.