Genetic variability and character association analysis in chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation including 42 chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes with one standard check Punjab Sindhuri was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University using the Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, under three different dates of transplanting, for the evaluation of correlation and path analysis, genetic variability, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variances (PCV and GCV), heritability and genetic advance of 19 chilli traits. It was observed that fruit yield had significant and positive correlations with number of fruits plant−1, fruit weight, powder yield, plant spread, days to first picking and plant height at phenotypic and genotypic level. The selection based on these traits would ultimately improve the fruit yield. The narrow gap between GCV and PCV indicated low environmental influence. The path analysis revealed that days to first picking, fruit length, pericarp thickness and powder yield had positive genotypic direct effect on fruit yield. The number of fruits plant−1, fruit weight and capsaicin in green and red chilli fruits and color in oleoresin could be used as good benchmarks for the selection, because these traits had high GCV, heritability and genetic advance. Hence, it would be rewarding to lay stress on these characters in selection programme for the improvement.