Silver nitrate promotes shoot development and plant regeneration of chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) via organogenesis

Chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were regenerated from cotyledon explants in vitro in four major stages: bud induction, bud enlargement, shoot elongation, and root development. Bud induction medium contained 0.5 mg/L (2.9 mu M) indole-3-acetic acid and 2 mg/L (8.9 mu M) N super(6)-benzyladenine. Bud enlargement occurred, and an occasional shoot appeared when medium with 2 mg/L (6 mu M) gibberellic acid, 2 mg/L (8.9 mu M) N super(6)-benzyladenine, and 5 mg/L (29.4 mu M) silver nitrate was used. Most shoots elongated after placement on a third medium without plant growth regulators or on fresh plates of bud enlargement medium. Incubations were for 2, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively, at 28.5 degree C and continuous light. Treatment with silver nitrate was necessary for multiple shoot production and elongation to occur in the third culture stage and was most effective when present in the second-stage medium but not in the bud induction medium. Sixteen to 26% of the shoots rooted in medium with 1 mg/L (5.4 mu M) 1-naphthaleneacetic acid after 1 month. Additional shoots transferred to a second rooting medium with 0.1 or 1.0 mg/L (0.54 or 5.4 mu M) 1-naphthaleneacetic acid developed roots, increasing the overall rooting efficiency to 70-72%. Most rooted shoots grew well and produced viable seeds when grown in the greenhouse. Other cytokinins tested for plant regeneration were zeatin and thidiazuron. Zeatin induced few shoots and fewer well-developed plants. Thidiazuron induced multiple shoots 4 months after culture began, but many were small and did not elongate further. Phytagar tissue culture grade proved superior to other agars tested, increasing bud induction frequency from 0-33% to 80-93% and eliminating explant hyperhydricity. (DBO)