Origin of plantlets and callus obtained from chile pepper anther cultures

Androgenesis occurred from chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) anthers incubated in a continuous warm environment (29° C) with continuous light. Forty plantlets and embryoids were retrieved from anther cultures and analyzed for isozyme markers. Of these, 35 exhibited a single allele for markers suggesting microscope origin, while 5 were heterozygous indicating somatic tissue origin. Chromosome numbers were confirmed for 21 plantlets, of which 16 were haploid and 5 were diploid. However, two plants exhibited a single allele for an isozyme marker but possessed the diploid chromosome number, suggesting spontaneous doubling. Anther cultures also produced callus. Nearly 92% of the slow-growing calli sampled were heterozygous for the isozyme marker, suggesting somatic tissue origin. More than 46% of the fast-growing calli exhibited only one allele for the marker, indicating microspore origin. Callus did not regenerate plantlets. The occurrence of both heterozygous and homozygous diploid plantlets from pepper anther cultures has important implications for applied breeding programs.