Variability, heritability and genetic advance for certain quantitative characters in black pepper

Abstract

Data on 28 genotypes of pepper recorded for three seasons, at the Pepper Research Station, Panniyur was utilized to estimate genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability and genetic advance in certain quantitative characters of pepper. Spike yield and spike number have shown maximum genotypic and phenotypic variability, but lowest values for heritability. Berry weight has shown highest value for heritability and minimum genotypic and phenotypic variability. The character, spike yield was found to produce highest advance in the expression on selection, whereas only a marginal improvement need be expected for berry weight.