Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding (Jun 2015)
Genetic variability and character association studies for green fruit yield and quality component traits in chilli (capsicum annuum var. longum (dc.) sendt.)
Abstract
Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis were studied for green fruit yield and its components in 40 diverse genotypes of chilli. The analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied which indicating that presence of great deal of genetic variability for different traits. The high estimates of GCV and PCV were obtained for number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit length (cm), average fruit girth (cm), fruit shape index, average fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per plant (g), chlorophyll content (mg/100g), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) and capsaicin content (mg/g), while it was low for moisture content (%). The characters like days to flowering (days), plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit length (cm), average fruit girth (cm), fruit-shape index, average fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per plant (g), chlorophyll content (mg/100g), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) and capsaicin content (mg/g) exhibited high genetic advance coupled with high heritability, indicating better scope for improvement of these traits by an effective selection programme. The results of correlation studies indicated that genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the traits. Green fruit yield per plant had high, significant and positive association with number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, moisture content and chlorophyll content at both genotypic and phenotypic levels which indicating that these traits were main yield attributing traits. Path analysis revealed that characters like number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight had high and positive direct effects on green fruit yield. For maximizing the green fruit yield per plant weightage should be given to early flowering, more number of fruits per plant, high average fruit weight, more number of secondary branches per plant and high moisture content.
