Genetic diversity in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes using agro-morphological and molecular markers
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Date
2021-11-30
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Palampur
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to assess the genetic variation, association among
yield and its attributing traits and their direct and indirect contributions towards fruit yield, and
to identify the most promising chilli genotypes. The experimental material comprised of 32
genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications during
summer- rainy season 2020. Sufficient genetic variability was observed for marketable green
fruit yield, red ripe fruit yield, yield attributes and quality traits. Based on mean performance,
11 genotypes for marketable green fruit yield and nine genotypes for red ripe fruit yield per
plant significantly out yielded over standard check ‘Him Palam Mirch-2’ which was mainly
due to significant contribution of the traits namely, fruit length, fruit girth, leaf length, plant
height, primary and secondary branches per plant, average fruit weight, marketable fruits per
plant, total fruits per plant, per cent marketable fruits per plant and harvest duration. The high
estimates of PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance were observed for dry fruit yield per
plant, marketable green and red ripe fruits per plant, marketable green and red ripe fruit yield
per plant and total fruits per plant. Correlation studies revealed that marketable green and red
ripe fruit yield per plant had positive and significant association with average green and red
fruit weight, marketable green and red ripe fruits per plant, total green and red fruits per plant,
per cent marketable green and red fruits per plant, ascorbic acid and capsaicin content. In view
of direct and indirect contribution of component traits, selection on the basis of total fruits per
plant and average green fruit weight would be a paying preposition for evolving high yielding
genotypes for marketable green while total red ripe fruits per plant was the major contributor
towards red ripe and dry fruit yield. The study revealed considerable genetic diversity among
genotypes which were grouped into seven clusters. A total of 85.40 per cent variation was
explained by the first nine principal components. The molecular diversity study using UPGMA
method indicated significant diversity in the population as the genotypes were grouped in two
main clusters. Twelve genotypes viz., ‘DPCH-13-1’, ‘DPCH-501’, ‘DPCH-39-12’, ‘DPCH33-2’, ‘DPCH-104-1’, ‘Him Palam Mirch-2’, ‘DPCH-32-21’, ‘DPCH-38-121’, ‘DPCH-38-
122’, ‘2019/CHIVAR-6’, ‘DPCH-38-22’ and ‘DPCH-28-13’ were found common while
comparing morphological and SSR results and thereby, exhibited the consonance between
morphological and SSR results. These genotypes can be used as potential parents in future
breeding programmes to isolate transgressive segregants.