EVALUATION AND DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF CHILLI GENOTYPES (Capsicum spp.)
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Date
2023
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Abstract
In the present investigation, 31 genotypes of chilli were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design at Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13 during Rabi, 2022-23. The investigation was oriented to assess the genetic variability parameters, character association, cause-effect relationships and clustering of genotypes based on the existing variation. Analysis of variance revealed presence of significant variation among all the genotypes for the concerned traits under study. Based on mean performance, the genotypes Chilli Sel-1, Krishna Selection, Kashi Abha, Mem chilli, Kharika Selection, Local Collection-5 and 2021/CHIVAR-4 were found to be superior. GCV and PCV were high for the characters total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, fruit length, fruit diameter, pericarp thickness and average fruit weight indicating high variation among the genotypes. Total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, fruit length, fruit diameter, pericarp thickness, plant height and average fruit weight disclosed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance which implies role of additive gene action. Correlation studies revealed that fruit yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with relative leaf water content, fruit length and average fruit weight. Genotypic path analysis showed that days to first red ripe fruit harvest followed by relative water content and average fruit weight exhibited positive direct effect on yield. Pertaining to this, selection for these characters should be functional for improvement in yield. Mahalanobis D2 statistics divided the thirty one genotypes into eight clusters among which cluster I had maximum numbers of genotypes i.e. 10. The maximum intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster VI signifying wide range of variation among the genotypes of that cluster.. The superior genotypes Local collection-5 and Kashi Abha were included in cluster II and Cluster V respectively which had highest inter-cluster distance. Hence hybridization of genotype Local collection-5 with Kashi Abha can result in improved varieties with high heterosis. This study has revealed scope for further detailed research works to improve the chilli genotypes with regards to the major characters.