Genetic variability In hot chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

摘要

Breeding works in this species has been given little emphasis til! date. Presence of high variability in this crop has been reported by Cherian (1) and Manju (5). Hence there is much scope for its improvement. Considering the econom ic importance of this species in oleoresin industry and export market an experiment was taken up to estimate the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in selected genotypes of hot chilli. The materials for the study consisted of ten high yielding genotypesselected from the preliminary germplasm evaluation trial. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with three replications in plots of size 6.75 m2. Seedlings were planted at a spacing of 75 x 60 cm. All the recommended cultivation practices (KAU, 4) were adopted and the crop was raised in open under irrigated condition. Five plants were selected randomly from each genotype and observations were recorded on plant height, primary branches per plant, days to first flowering, days to harvest, fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, pedicel length, pedicel-fruit ratio, yield per plant, driage per cent, capsaicin, oleoresin, carotenoid and ascorbic acid content.