DEVELOPMENT OF DISEASE RESISTANT HOT PEPPER HYBRIDS SUITABLE FOR PROCESSING

摘要

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most valuable commercial spice crop grown on 0,95 million hectares in India with a total production of 0,82 million tonnes (Peter, 1999). The chilli is a rich source of ascorbic acid and used in salad and as well as in curries. The red fiuit are characterized by its pungency and colouring matter. The quality of any chilli hybrid when judged by the grower give priority to yield, fruit colour and lack of disease (viruses) and pests. As the produce (chilli fruits) moves through market channels other quality parameters are recognized particularly processing quality, nutritional quality, appearance and storage quality. The two major diseases viz. leaf curl virus and wilt posses threat to the chilli crop in India,though CMV, TMV and other viruses do occoure on this crop. These diseases reduce productivity and quality of the crop. Keeping in view the importance of this crop and the problems of growers, number of hybrids were attempted and the promising one's wereevaluated and identified which were disease resistant and rich in dry matter, capsaicin and colouring matter.