STUDIES ON GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN CAPSICUM (Capsicum annuum L.) IN UTTARANCHAL HILLS

摘要

Genetic diversity among 22 Capsicum genotypes was assessed based on 16 yield contributing characters using Mahalanobis D~2 statistic. The genotypes could be grouped into 4 clusters Cluster I was largest with 16 genotypes followed by cluster II with 3genotypes, cluster III with 2 genotypes and cluster IV with only one genotype, Cluster IV showed maximum genetic divergence (35.878) with cluster III followed by cluster II (32,670) and cluster I (31.819). Based on genetic divergence (D~2) values, PepperPeprika x Lieberapfel, Pepper Peprika x Neusiedler, Pepper Peprika x CW-1, Pepper Peprika x CW Sel. 1 and Pepper Peprika x Sel.l-2 are suggested as potential crosses to incorporate most of desirable traits in population through hybrid breeding programmes in capsicum under rainfed mid hills of Uttaranchal.