In vitro plant regeneration was achieved in Capsicum praeterrnissum, C. baccatum and C. annuum cvs. G4, Bhiwapuri Sweet pepper, Cayenne pepper and Hybrid pepper. Shoots were induced from hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5.7 PM indoleacetic acid (IAA) + 13.3 PM benzyladenine (BA); 22 PM BA; and 44 PM BA. Analysis of variance revealed that the most significant effect on shoot regeneration was due to the explant and it accounted for 56.3% of total variation observed. The genotype x explant effect on regeneration was minor relative to all other 2-and 3-way interactions because leaf explants consistently regenerated more shoots than hypocotyls or cotyledons in all the genotypes and thereby reduced the variation among the genotypes. Explant x medium interaction revealed that 22 PM BA was the best growth regulator supplement in regeneration medium for optimal shoot regeneration from leaf explants. Rooting of regenerated shoots was achieved on 5.7 PM N&containing medium, and the rooting response was better from shoots induced on medium fortified with 5.7 PM IAA plus 13.3 PM BA. Complete plantlets with diploid chromosome number (2n=2x=24) were transferred to soil and 60-70% of these plantlets survived and grew well.Abbreviations: BA -benzyladenine; IAA -indole-3-acetic acid; MS -Murashige and Skoog

The effect of various concentrations of benzyladenine or kinetin (4.7-185.9 ~tM) on shoot proliferation from shoot-tip explants was investigated in C. praetermissum Heiser & Smith and C. annuum L. Maximum number of shoots were obtained on Murashige & Skoog's medium with 66.6 ~tM BA or 92.9 ~tM kinetin in C. praetermissum, and 88.8 ~tM BA or 116.2 ~tM kinetin in C. annuum after 4 weeks of culture. Combining 1 ~M 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) with low levels of BA or kinetin significantly increased shoot number as compared to using either cytokinin alone. Rooting of regenerated shoots was achieved on MS medium containing 5.7 ~tM indoleacetic acid. Best rooting (80-100%) was observed in shoots from TIBA plus BA or kinetin media while only 40-50% of shoots from the BA or kinetin treatments were rootable. Plantlets obtained from TIBA plus BA or kinetin were normal diploids while those from BA or kinetin alone revealed distinct chromosomal aberrations in their root tip squashes. Regenerants from TIBA plus BA or kinetin media were successfully established in the soil (86% survival rate), where they flowered and showed normal meiotic behaviour with 100% pollen viability.

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Serum hTERT is useful for diagnosing and assessing the clinical stage of breast cancer and is superior to conventional markers. Therefore, serum hTERT could have a potential application as a novel biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis.

The effects of atrazine on cotyledon cultures of Capsicum annuum (L.) cv. G 4 were investigated with a view of establishing a system for in vitro selection of resistant mutants. At low levels of herbicide produced little growth inhibition, some chlorophyll loss occurred associated with the production of albino shoots. At 20 mg l )1 atrazine bleaching was more pronounced and was accompanied by the development of necrotic spots; however, efficient bleaching was associated with severe suppression of growth. Mutagenized cotyledon explants resulted in production of herbicide-resistant plants on medium containing selective levels of sucrose (0.5%) and atrazine (20 mg l )1 ). Differential morphogenetic responses were observed when the levels of sucrose (0.5-5%) were altered. Shoot regeneration was maximum in 2% sucrose and the regenerating ability decreased with a further increase in sucrose concentration (3-5%). However, lowering of sucrose concentration from 2 to 0.5% caused complete bleaching of explants and permitted the selection of herbicide-resistant plants. Complete atrazine-resistant plantlets were obtained after rooting of regenerated green shoots on rooting medium containing 10 mg l )1 atrazine, 1.0 mg l )1 IAA and 0.5% sucrose. Leafsegment assay of differentiated plants revealed that all regenerants were resistant to the atrazine. Reciprocal crosses between atrazine-resistant and -sensitive plants showed a non-Mendelian transmission of resistance trait.