EFFECTS OF EXOGENOUS PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR ON IN VITRO REGENERATION OF COTYLEDONAR EXPLANTS IN PEPPER

Abstract. Regenerated plants were obtained from cotyledon explants of eight pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.) cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different plant growth regulator (PGRs) by four-step culture procedure including shoot induction, shoot elongation, shoot rooting and transplanting. Nicotinic acid is important for plant growth which can promote explants differentiation. AgNO3 significantly increased the frequency of shoot induction in different pepper varieties. Gibberellic acid (GA3 ) was the key factor in shoot elongation. The elongated shoots cultured on MS basal medium with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were easier to root

than that on MS basal medium. Plantlets were transplanted to soil and acclimatized in the greenhouse showing normal development. By the four-step procedures stated above, a plant regeneration system was established.