In Vitro Induction Of Callusogenesis In Chili Peppers (Capsicum Annuum L.)

In vitro callusogenesis and differential callus growth rate was studied from hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants of three cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. viz., var. X-235, var. PC-1 and var. Pusa Jwala. Callus initiation was genotype dependent and var. X-235 had best callusogenesis response than var. PC-1 and var. Pusa Jwala. MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D(1.0mg/l) and BAP(2.0mg/l) was found to be the best medium for maximum frequency of callus induction recorded from hypocotyl explants of the 3 genotypes i.e., var. X-235(79%), var. PC-1(68%) and var. Pusa Jwala (64%). The hypocotyl explants manifested maximum callus fresh weight (1.16g) than cotyledon and leaf explants. The study revealed that the callus growth rate (fresh weight) of all the explants showed maximum increase in the first subculture (1st week) than the lateral subcultures (6th and 9th week). This rapid in vitro callusogenesis procedure can be used as a source for production of secondary metabolites from chili peppers.