A method of rapid propagation of hot pepper using marcoting technique to maintain clonal characteristics

Musa Mohamed, Puran Bridgemoha

Abstract

Plant breeders are faced with the challenge that when desirable F1 hybrids are produced with low viable seed counts, the continuity of the breeding programme can be compromised. Hot peppers with very high pungency for culinary and pharmaceutical uses often experience good seed yield but with low viability and vigour. This experiment explored the application of air-layering using hormone treated sphagnum moss. After three (3) weeks, the results indicated an over 50% success rate. The F1 hybrids matured into plants with the same genotypic and physiological characteristics of the parent, and the breeding programme was successfully completed.