In Vitro Shoot Regeneration and Multiplication of Peruvian Rocoto Chili Pepper (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.)

Abstract

The rocoto (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.) (Solanaceae) is an endemic herbaceous chili pepper from Peru. Low yields of rocoto production are due to the low availability of certified seeds or the production of superior plant seedlings. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish an in vitro protocol for the regeneration and multiplication of rocoto shoots. The multiplication was carried out on shoot tips excised from rocoto seedlings germinated under in vitro conditions, and then the explants were placed on Murashigue and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L. For rooting, shoots were obtained from the multiplication phase and placed under different treatments made up of MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole butyric acid (IBA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA): 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L. In the multiplication phase, the best results were observed with MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP, with 82.22% shoot development, 2.93 shoots per explant and 2.75 cm shoot length. In the rooting phase, the best results were observed with MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L IBA, with 91.11% root development, 9.73 roots per explant and 6.79 cm root length. Here, we show the first evidence and tool for the in vitro regeneration and multiplication of rocoto chili pepper, which could be used for the multiplication of superior genotypes, germplasm in vitro conservation and its use in plant breeding programs.