MANISH, KUMARSHARMA, ANKITA2017-05-122017-05-122014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810011058ABSTRACT The present investigations entitled “Studies on genetic divergence in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)” was carried out at the Research Farm, Departmentof Vegetable Science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) during Kharif, 2013 to evaluate germplasm of bell pepper and to study variability, heritability, correlation and path analysis of different characters along with estimation of genetic divergence among genotypes. The experiment was laid out in a RCBD with three replications. In this study, thirty five genotypes including three check cultivars were evaluated for different horticultural traits. The observations were recorded on days to first flowering, days to first marketable picking, number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit breadth (cm), average fruit weight (g), pericarp thickness (mm), plant height (cm), harvest duration (days), number of seeds per fruit, number of lobes per fruit, ascorbic acid content (mg/100g), capsaicin content (mg/g), fruit yield (kg/plant, kg/plot and q/ha), Phythophthora fruit rot incidence (%) and Phytophthora leaf blight severity (%). Analysis of variance showed significant differences among all the genotypes for all the characters under study. The genotype DARL-72 gave higher yield and performed better for other important horticultural traits over all the checks and also showed tolerance to Phytophthora leaf blight and fruit rotdisease. High heritability coupled with high genetic gain was obtained for fruit yield. Hence, selectioncan prove effective for improvement in fruit yield. High heritability coupled with moderate genetic gain was obtained for number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and pericarp thickness indicating some scope for their improvement through selection. A highly significant and positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation of yield was found with number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit breadth, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness, plant height, harvest duration and number of lobes per fruit. Maximum positive direct effect towards yield were contributed by number of fruits per plant, followed by average fruit weight and pericarp thickness. In the present investigations the cluster III and IV were found most divergent and there will be more chances of getting better segregants in F 2and subsequent generations from the crossing of genotypes between cluster III and IV.ennullThesis