Transfer of clusterness to bell peppers (capsicum annum L. var grossum sendt.)

Abstract

The present studies ‘Transfer of clusterness to bell peppers (capsicum annum L. var. grossum sendt.) were conducted during September to February, 1983-’84, April to August, 1984 and August to January, 1984-’85. Three bell pepper varieties, 672-Hungarian Wax, Early Calwonder and Cubanelle were found suitable to the warm humid tropical condition of Kerala. The F1 hybrids involving bell peppers and the hot cluster chilli were also found suitable to the tract. All the hybrids yielded more than their better parents. The F1 hybrids showed desirable heterosis for days to flower, days to green fruit harvest, days to fruit ripening, plant height, pedicel length, fruit length, fruit perimeter, fruit weight and yield/plant. 672-Hungarian wax x KAU cluster F1 hybrid was the most promising with desirable plant and fruit characteristics. The F2 heterosis was not significant for exploitation. The solitary bearing habit was dominant over cluster habit. No maternal effect was observed in the inheritance of this character. The bearing habit was controlled by two genes with a specific dominant and recessive epistatic gene action. This was clearly proved through a 13 (solitary) : 3 (cluster) ratio in the F2s of Early Calwonder x KAU cluster, Sweet Red Cherry Pickling x KAU Cluster and Hybrid Pepper Bell Boy x KAU Cluster. It was further confirmed through test crosses and half-sib crosses. The 3 : 1 (solitary : cluster) ratio obtained in 672- Hungarian Wax x KAU Cluster F2 was attributed to homozygous dominant condition of both the genes in 672-Hungarian Wax. The genes for clusterness were tentatively named CL1-cl1 and Cl2-cl2 with epistatic gene actions by cl2 and cl1. The genotypes were thus worked out as KAU Cluster- cl1cl1cl2cl2. Early Calwonder-cl1cl1cl2cl2, Sweet Red Cherry Pickling- cl1cl1cl2cl2, Hybrid Pepper Bell Boy- cl1cl1cl2cl2 and 672-Hungarian Wax-cl1cl1cl2cl2. Fruit/cluster showed a continuous variation but the genetic analysis revealed a major role of environment in the expression of the character. Elite cluster bell pepper lines were identified and progressed. The line, KAU Cluster was observed resistant to bacterial wilt.