Genetic divergence as a function of combining ability in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

In chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), where a low productivity and susceptibility to pests and diseases is a serious problem, combining ability studies is a must to go in for developing superior hybrids. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to study the combining ability of 14 chilli genotypes by line x tester mating technique. A total of 45 hybrids were produced in line x tester design, involving 5 lines, viz., RHRC-50-1, PMR-14, PMR-19, Tiwari and AVRDC-95-06 and 9 testers viz., Arka Abhir, Arka Lohit, Byadgi Dabbi, Byadgi Kaddi, PMR-21, PMR-39, PMR-57, Punjab Guchhedar and Punjab Surkh during rabi 2003. The hybrids were evaluated along with their parents and commercial check (Namdhari Seeds 1101) in a randomized block design with two replications during summer 2004. Observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants for 12 characters viz., plant height (cm), number of primary branches, fruit length (cm), number of fruits per plant, fresh fruit yield per plant (g), dry fruit yield per plant(g), number of seeds per fruit, Bartlett's index for earliness, Ascorbic acid content in green fruits (mg/100g), Capsanthin content (ASTA units), Oleoresin percentage and susceptibility to virus complex (Percent Disease Index). Combining ability analysis was done according to the model given by Kempthome [1]. The parents were classified in to low (L) and high (H) general combiners; so also the crosses were also classified into high (H) and low (L) based on the method suggested by Arunachalam and Bandyopadhyay [2] and slightly modified by Mohan Rao [3].