Histology of Microspores of Chile Apple Capsicum pubescens R and P. and in vitro Culture

In plant biotechnology, in vitro culture of gametic or sexual cells, microspores or pollen grains, has been described as a successful tool to accelerate genetic improvement, obtaining haploid, homozygotic plants or pure lines in a short time. In chile apple, Capsicum pubescens R and P. Anthers were sown in vitro, and their cytological analysis, locating the meiotic division stage of microspores or pollen grains. Flower buds with diameters from 2.5 to 4.4 mm were pre-incubated at 4°C, in ascorbic and citric acid at 100 and 150 mg-L-1 for 24 h. Five semisolid culture media (A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5) were used, with Murashige and Skoog (1962) salts (MS), modifying iron and vitamin chelates, sucrose, and L-cysteine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Kinetin (Kin). Anthers, in vitro, were plated, in light and dark, for 70 days. Two differentiation media (R1 and R2) were evaluated with 100% MS salts, glycine, kinetin and myo-inositol. The anthers seeded, coincided with the first mitosis of the microspore, the anthers, formed callus in the media (A1) 100 % EDTA-Fe, 0.40 mg-L-1 thiamine, 3 % sucrose) and (A3) 100 % EDTA-Fe, 0.40 mg-L-1 thiamine, 3 % sucrose, 0. 3 mg-L-1 of 2,4-D, and differentiated pro-embryonic structures in (A3) and (A5) 200 % EDTA-Fe, 0.4 mg-L-1 thiamine, 50 mg-L-1 pyridoxine, folic acid, riboflavin and niacin, 0.3 mg-L-1 2,4-D plus 0.3 mg-L-1 Kinetin, as well as roots in (A1). Light influenced the formation of pro-embryos and roots, in the dark callus. The media (R1) and (R2) favored the formation of pro-embryos.