IN VIVO PERFORMANCE AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF IN VITRO PROPAGATED PEPPER (Capsicum annuum) PLANTS.

Comparative analysis for the perfonnance of "Red Chilli" pepper plants
propagated by tissue culture (TC) and by seeds (8T) was conducted under
greenhouse condition. The results indicated that Te propagated plants had a
significant effect on stem length and diameter and flowered significantly ea~ier than
8T propagated plants. Average fruit number and fruit yield per plant did not
significantly differ in response to propagation method. Fresh and dry weight, and
nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus contents of vegetative growth were signifICantly
higher in TC plants. Dry weight of fruits and their contents of nitrogen, potassium, and
phosphorus were also higher in Te plants. Biochemical analysis showed a significant
increase in percentage total sugars of Te-produced plants compared with 8T -derived
plants, however, 5T-plants contained significantly more carotenoids than Te-plants.
Fruits of Te-plants were significantly higher in their total and reducing sugars than ST-
raised plants.