Optimization of cyclic somatic embryogenesis and assessing genetic fidelity in six varieties of black pepper (Piper nigrum L)

Abstract

Embryos along with micropylar tissue dissected out from matured seeds of six varieties of black pepper were used for somatic embryogenesis. Primary somatic embryos were induced from the micropylar region after 40 to 85 days in different varieties. Sucrose concentration was found to be crucial for the production and proliferation of secondary somatic embryos (SE) and cyclic SE. SE was visible from root pole region of primary embryos within 65 to 100 days in different varieties on Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium. SE gave rise to cyclic SE in the same medium within 10-20 days in different varieties. Colour and size of cyclic SE varied among varieties. Regeneration of cyclic SE into plantlets was successful in SH liquid medium and transferred into woody plant medium. The rooted plants were hardened in the green house, the number of plantlets obtained varied among varieties. Genetic fidelity testing of somatic embryo-derived plants of all varieties with corresponding mother plants using six simple sequence repeats markers, showed genetic uniformity.