Abstract - Induction of in vitro flowering in Capsicum frutescens under the influence of silver nitrate and cobalt chloride and pollen transformation

Induction of in vitro flowering in Capsicum frutescens under the influence of silver nitrate and cobalt chloride and pollen transformation

Ashwani Sharma
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department
Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore - 570 020, Karnataka State, India
Tel: 91 0821 2516 501
Fax: 91 0821 2517 233
E-mail: pcbt@cftri.res.in

Vinod Kumar
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department
Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore - 570 020, Karnataka State, India
Tel: 91 0821 2516 501
Fax: 91 0821 2517 233
E-mail: pcbt@cftri.res.in

Parvatam Giridhar
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department
Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore - 570 020, Karnataka State, India
Tel: 91 0821 2516 501
Fax: 91 0821 2517 233
E-mail: pcbt@cftri.res.in

Gokare Aswathanarayana Ravishankar*
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department
Central Food Technological Research Institute
Mysore - 570 020, Karnataka State, India
Tel: 91 0821 2516 501
Fax: 91 0821 2517 233
E-mail: pcbt@cftri.res.in

*Corresponding author

Financial support: This study is covered under Indian patent (Del No. #764/Del/2004).

Keywords: Capsicum frutescens, cobalt chloride, in vitro flowering, pollen transformation, regeneration, silver nitrate.

The influence of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) on shoot multiplication and in vitro flowering in Capsicum frutescens Mill. was investigated. Exogenous administration of AgNO₃ and CoCl₂at a concentration of 30 µM resulted in the maximum tissue response in terms of shoot length and number of shoots after 45 days culturing on MS medium. Both silver nitrate (40 µM) and cobalt chloride (30 µM) influenced in vitro flowering after 25 and 45 days respectively. This is the first report on in vitro flowering in C. frutescens. The study also demonstrated successful transformation of pollen obtained from the in vitro flowers. Since capsicum is highly recalcitrant to in vitro plant regeneration, the results of the study may be highly useful in transformation of capsicum using germ free in vitro flowers.