VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND GENETIC ADVANCE IN WAX TYPE CHILLI (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)

摘要

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most versatile crops, grown as avegetable as well as spice crop. Indigenous to Central and South America and the West Indies, it has been cultivated for hundreds of years throughout the world. It is grown throughout India, and our country tops the world in area and production. Chilli is grown in an area of 9.56 lakh ha with an annual production of 945 lakh tonnes and a productivity of 0.9 t ha~(-1). Wax type chilli is a distinct horticultural group with lightyellow, shining waxy fruits that are mainly used for salad purposes and in the preparation of snacks. Suited for pot cultivation also, they are the most premium types fetching maximum price in the market. Most wax type chillies cultivated in India are introductions from different countries, Natural crossing of these with indigenous types have resulted in considerable variability among them. Considering their importance, the present study was undertaken to estimate the genetic variability, heritabilityand genetic advance in a germplasm collection of wax type chillies.