Studies on heterosis and combining abilities with respect to important economic traits in Capsicum annuum, L.

Abstract

Sixty three varieties of Capsicum annuum representing different agroclimatic regions of the country constituted the base material of the study. Based on yield potential , adaptability and tolerance to leaf curl complex disease, thirty varieties were selected for subsequent studies. Comprehensive genetic studies including estimation of genetic parameters, cause effect relationship by path coefficient analysis, genetic divergence by Mahalanoble D2 statistic and a nine parent diallel analysis to causes the combining ability, to unravel the pattern of inheritance and also to examine the level of heterosis manifested with respect to eighteen economic characters including four nutritiveand quality attributes namely Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Capsaicin and Oleoresin content were conducted during the year 1976-79. Analysis of plot means exhibited highly significant differences among varieties except for Capsaicin content. The high degres of variability in economic attributes offers scope for recombining desirable genes from different varieties.