A research team from the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences has unveiled an optimized approach to accelerate pepper breeding using gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Published in Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), the study titled “Optimization of anther culture in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) via genotype selection and GABA supplementation” highlights the dual benefits of GABA as both a contaminant controller and a developmental enhancer.
The researchers evaluated fourteen F1 pepper hybrids and found that genotype B23-5 achieved the highest embryo induction and seedling formation rates. While traditional antimicrobial agents such as PPM, penicillin, and BABA reduced contamination, they also caused phytotoxic effects that inhibited plant development. In contrast, 50 mM GABA not only suppressed microbial contamination and tissue browning but also increased embryo induction to 3.33 percent—surpassing all other treatments.
The findings demonstrate that GABA can simultaneously strengthen plant tissue resilience and promote embryogenesis, providing a refined, cost-effective method for generating homozygous pepper lines. This innovation has the potential to shorten breeding cycles, improve selection efficiency, and enhance productivity in commercial pepper breeding programs.
For plant scientists and breeders, the GABA-enhanced protocol presents a sustainable alternative to antibiotic-based culture systems—marking a significant step toward cleaner, faster, and more reliable plant biotechnology.
Reference
Hou, S., Gong, X., Xu, Y. et al. Optimization of anther culture in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) via genotype selection and GABA supplementation. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 163, 49 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-025-03238-5
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