Spice pepper production has a history of almost 300 years in the southern part of
Hungary. In this study the results of two biotechnological improvements are summarized.
Anther and isolated microspore culture techniques were improved to release haploid and
doubled haploid (DH) lines for spice pepper breeding. Both the anther and isolated
microspore culture methods were successfully used in spice pepper haploid production.
Microspore culture- derived structures were analysed to identify their different parts.
Green plantlets were regenerated from embryos derived from both anther and microspore
cultures. Their doubled haploid analogues were integrated into Hungarian spice pepper
hybrid seed breeding programmes. One hybrid, Sláger, was released as a new genotype for
spice pepper production in 2008 and two hybrid candidates (Délibáb and Bolero) are now
being tested in official trials
