Salicylic Acid Induced Plantlet Regeneration in Pepper (Capsicum fruitescens) Calli

Cotyledonary explants from 4 week-old aseptic seedlings of Capsicum fruitescens cv. California Wonder were cultured on MS medium supplemented with sucrose (5%), agar (0.8%) and 2,4-D (1 mg l^-1) pH 5.7. One month old callus was subcultured on the same medium devoid of 2,4-D but with salicylic acid (0.5 to 2.0 mM) to study the role of Salicylic acid in triggering defense responses. However, the best response for salicylic acid induced plantlet regeneration was obtained at 0.5 mM concentration. Kinetin (0.5 to 5.0 mg l^-1) or Gibberellic Acid (each 0.5 to 5.0 mg l^-1) failed to do so. The salicylic acid induced cytodifferentiation and plantlet regeneration in pepper may function through the response regulator mediated two component signaling system.