Association Analysis in Chilli Genotypes for Dry Fruit Yield

Abstract

There is a need to intensify the development of high yielding cultivars in chilli. Investigation was carried out to study the genetic correlations and path coefficients in chilli genotypes (Capsicum annuum L.) among eighteen traits under study. High significant and positive correlation on dry fruit yield plant-1 was observed at both genotypic and phenotypic levels with plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, leaf area, number of fruits plant-1, pedicel length, fruit girth, fruit weight, number of seeds fruit-1, 1 000 seed weight, capsanthin content and green fruit yield. High positive direct effect of dry fruit yield in chilli was observed with number of fruit plant-1, days to first flowering, green fruit yield, number of seed fruit-1 and days to final harvest. From both correlation and path analysis, it is confirmed that important characters such [Such as] the number of fruits plant -1, fruit weight, green fruit yield, number of seeds fruit -1, days to first flowering, days to final harvest can be considered as selection indices in evaluating the best genotypes towards green fruit and dry fruit yield for future breeding programme in addition to the qualitative characters of capsanthin and capsaicin contents.