Effect of incubation period and culture medium on pepper anther culture

53-59Recurrent surge in demand of multipurpose peppers have positively encouraged pepper breeding community to study diverse aspects of pepper genetics, physiology, breeding and biotic stresses, however research on application of anther culture in pepper is still limited. Current study was aimed to assess the in vitro androgenic response of two prominent Bulgarian pepper varieties in five different duration times (12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 days) on incubation period and regeneration mediums containing kinetin (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg L-1) and combination of zeatin (0.25 mg L-1 0.5 mg L-1) and indole acetic acid (IAA) (0.1 mg L1). Experimental results indicated specific requirements for composition of culture medium and duration time depending on genotype. Prolonged anthers incubation on induction medium had a positive effect on embryo formation and their conversion into plantlets compared to regeneration medium variants. Highest number of embryos and plant-regenerants of variety Stryama was achieved after 18 days incubation period and medium variant containing 0.1 mg L-1 kinetin. Embryo induction in variety Zlaten Medal 7 was higher after 16 days and control medium without plant growth regulators, while regeneration at 20 days also on control medium variant