1371 <p> INDUCTION AND REGENERATION OF HYPOCOTYL DERIVED CALLI IN HOT CHILLI (CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS L.) VARIETIES</p> RABBIA HASNAT, NADEEM AKHTAR ABBASI, TOUQEER AHMAD AND ISHFAQ AHMAD HAFIZ <p> An efficient and reliable In vitro protocol was established for induction and regeneration of calli in varieties of hot chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.) var. Nepali and NARC-IV. Early initiation and induction with sustainable calli growth in both varieties was achieved on Murashige &amp; Skoog medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l-1 of 2,4-D. Better performance in both varieties regarding shoot initiation, regeneration rate (%) and number of lateral shoots per regenerants were achieved on medium containing 3.0 mg l-1 BA. Rooting was achieved on half strength MS basal medium containing 1.0 mg l-1 IBA. Plantlets exhibiting normal morphology with extensive rooting were acclimatized in greenhouse.</p> Published 2007 39 5 1787 1795