Genetic variability among bacterial wilt resistant genotypes of sweet pepper for yield and morpho-physiological traits under mid hill conditions of North Western Himalayas

Abstract

The potential for improvement in crops is proportional to
the magnitude of genetic variability present in the
germplasm. Therefore, the present study was carried out
with twenty six bacterial wilt resistant genotypes of sweet
pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.) to assess
the extent of genetic variability, correlation and path analysis
among yield and yield attributing traits. Significant variability
was observed for all quantitative and quality traits studied.
On the basis of mean performance, the genotype PCWR-1-
3-08 was found to be promising for marketable yield. High
phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic coefficients of variation
(GCV) were observed for total number of fruits/plant, number
of marketable fruits/plant, total yield/ plant, marketable yield/
plant and capsaicin content. High heritability coupled with
high genetic advance was noted for pericarp thickness,
number of marketable fruits/plant, marketable yield/plant and
capsaicin content, which indicated the role of additive gene
action for the inheritance of these traits. These traits are
likely to respond better to selection. Correlation and path
analysis studies indicated that number of marketable fruits/
plant, average fruit weight, fruit length and days to first
harvest contributed to marketable yield. From the present
study, it was concluded that the genotypes PCWR-1-3-08,
PCWR-Cap-7-08, PCWR-Cap-4-08, PCWR-33-1-3-08 and
PCWR-33-3-1-08 could be directly used after multi–location
testing as these possessed inherent ability to high yield
along with bacterial wilt resistance and superior horticultural
and quality traits.