Abstract
A novel micropropagation protocol was established for Capsicum frutescens L. cv. ‘Uchithi’, a pungent chilli cultivar, through induction of
axillary shoot proliferation of in vitro raised plantlets by decapitation and using the axillary shoots as explants for multiple shoot bud induction.
About 2–6 axillary shoots were induced within 2 weeks when 4-week-old in vitro raised plantlets were decapitated. The axillary shoot-tip explants
produced multiple shoot buds when cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium containing 8.8–44.4 mM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or
9.3–46.7mM kinetin alone or 8.8–44.4mM BAP with 4.6mM kinetin or 5.7 and 28.5mM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Maximum number of shoots
(5.6) were induced on medium containing 22.2mM BAP in combination with 4.65mM kinetin. The separated shoots rooted and elongated on
medium containing 2.8 mM IAA or 2.4–4.9 mM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Rooted plantlets were successfully established in the soil. Efficient
mass multiplication of this important food crop was achieved.
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