Selecting Parental Lines among Genotypes of Capsicum annuum for Hybridization Aiming at Dry Fruit Yield Improvement

Abstract

Increased productivity of dry chilli with appreciable fruit quality is the present need in major growing areas to promote export from our country. The present investigation was undertaken to identify important selection indices, and to analyze the genetic divergence of collected germplasm for identification of diverse parents for spice chilli hybridization program. Different components of genetic variability for 15 growth and yield component traits were determined employing 45 genotypes evaluated in autumn-winter season of 2015-16 in Randomized Block Design with three replications. High GCV and PCV values were recorded for all the characters except days to 50% flowering, days to ripe fruit maturity from anthesis and 1000 seed weight. The proportion of genetic contribution to the overall phenotypic expression of most of the traits was very high. Both heritability and genetic advance was high for all the characters under study except days to ripe fruit maturity from anthesis, revealing additive genetic control of characters. Selection would be most useful for the improvement of these traits. Dry fruit yield/plant was found positively and significantly correlated with all the traits except days to 50% flowering and days to ripe fruit maturity from anthesis. Path coefficient analysis indicated that the maximum direct effect on dry fruit yield/plant was through ripe fruit yield/plant followed by dry fruit weight. From the combing study of correlation and path coefficient, the characters, namely ripe fruit yield/plant and dry fruit weight were the most important selection criteria, emphasis should be given on such traits while imposing selection for amenability in dry fruit yield of chilli. Based on the determination of divergence all the genotypes were grouped into 7 clusters. However, random grouping pattern of genotypes was observed indicating that geographical diversity and genetic divergence were unrelated. The intra-and inter-cluster distance among the genotypes depicted that crossing between the genotypes belonging in Cluster I and VII or Cluster III and VII will be expected to give high heterotic response in F 1 generation. The character fruit length contributed the maximum towards genetic divergence followed by fruit diameter, fruits/plant and plant spread (N-S). Based on D 2 Statistics, PCA and mean performance, six genitors Beldanga, BCCH Sel-4, G-4, BCC-30, BCC-25, and Srinagar possessed the optimum combination of all variables and were identified as most promising donor parents in dry chilli hybridization programme with a view to develop promising hybrids/improved lines.

Genetic diversity study in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) using multivariate approaches

“…Based on PCA, most of the important yield attributing and quality traits were present in PC1, PC2 and PC5. Fig.3represents the contribution of each variable towards the cumulative variability in the genotypes studied.The result of the present findings is similar to the findings ofSreenivas et al (2019),Usman et al (2014), Sarmah et al (2018,Belay et al (2019).The PC scores of each component had positive and negative values (table6). These scores can be utilized to propose precise selection indices whose intensity can be decided by variability explained by each principal component.…”

“…Thus, the selection of these lines can help in the further development of new high yielding and good quality varieties of chilli. Findings of this experiment were supported byJanaki et al (2015),Usman et al (2014), Sarmah et al (2018), Sing et al (2019), Sreenivas et al (2019,Belay et al (2019) and.…”

Morphogenetic divergence in Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Genotypes

“…Less genetic diversity means less opportunity for the development and growth and innovation required to boost agriculture (Taylor and Tuia, 2008). Evaluation of the potentialities of the indigenous and exotic germplasm is essential because promise for further improvement program depends on the genetic diversity of the crop (Sreenivas et al, 2019).…”

Current and Prospective Strategies in the Varietal Improvement of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Specially Heterosis Breeding

“…Identification, and utilization, of appropriate parental lines, are fundamental for developing possible hybrids of chilli with high and stable yield. Moreover, improving yield, quality, and tolerance to cope with biotic and abiotic stress at the same time is a critical need of time [14].…”