Author(s)

Tilahun Hailu^*, Balcha Abera, Jiregna Daksa

Department of Biology, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia.

An efficient and reproducible in vitro mass propagation protocol was developed for Mareko Fana cultivar of hot pepper (C. annuum L.) through direct organogenesis using nodal and shoot tip explants. Three percent active chlorine for 20 minutes was found to be optimum treatment combination yielding 82.5% ± 5.00% contaminant-free germinated seedlings. For shoot induction, MS + 4.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA and MS medium containing eight mg/l Zeatin were found to be optimum resulting 77.5% ± 5.00% and 67.50% ± 5.00% induction percentage for nodal and shoot tip explants respectively. Maximum shoot multiplication responses were obtained on MS + 3 mg/l BAP + 2 mg/l Kinetin with mean number of 9.2 ± 0.2 and 8.6 ± 0.00 shoots for nodal and shoot tip explants respectively. Best shoot elongation and rooting responses were obtained on MS + 0.5 mg/l IBA resulting mean value of 29.6 ± 0.12 root number, 4.25 ± 0.20 cm root length and 5.12 ± 0.20 cm shoot height. The plantlets showed 77.5% survival during acclimatization and transplanting.

Capsaicin, Micro Propagation, Micro Cuttings, Micro Shoots, Pepper, Plant Growth Regulators

Hailu, T. , Abera, B. and Daksa, J. (2015) In Vitro Direct Organogenesis Protocol for Mass Propagation of an Elite Ethiopian Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Cultivar: Mareko Fana. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 6, 1435-1443. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2015.69143.