The Genetic Dissection of Economically Important Traits in Chilli Genotypes (Capsicum annuum L.) through Multivariate Analysis

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivar share a variety of different and intriguing growth and yield characteristics, for a plant breeder studies on genotypic and phenotypic relationship for horticulture cum vegetable spicy crop and its traits are useful to design, evaluate and to develop selection criteria for desired traits. With this background information the present study focused on identification of crucial characteristics required for boosting yield and to determine the parameters for the selection of superior genotypes. A total of 30 chilli genotypes were subjected to variability, divergence and mutual correlation studies for yield and yield component traits by using multivariate analysis.

Results from the analysis of variance and variability revealed highly significant differences at (p≤0.01) and (p≤0.05) for all the studied traits. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were observed for FL fallowed by FYP, NFP, IFW, WPDM, FD, PH and NSF respectively, except for MC has revealed low GCV and PCV. All the traits were shown the presence of high heritability ( ) in broad sense (>60%) coupled with high GAM (>20%), except for MC, indicating the presence of positive additive gene action and effective transmission of characters to the next generation with selection. Highly significant and positive strong correlation was observed for IFW (r = 0.68**), WPDM (r = 0.54**), TW (r = 0.40*) and FD (r = 0.37*) with FYP, while the path analysis revealed highest direct effect for the traits such as FPT, FL and NFP. Principle component analysis revealed a 70.60% total variation accounted with first four PCAs with Eigen vector values more than one.

Further cluster analysis grouped the 30 chilli genotypes into four major cluster (Cluster I, II, III and IV) and combined cluster analysis identified genotypes contributing to the maximum variability, viz., cultivars such as LIPSTICK, B.KADDI, B.DABBI, BHOOT JALOKIA, SUM- 17, BCH- 42, PBC- 80, LCA- 310, M- 262, KA2- L, S. SELECTION 1, JCH- 42 and 9608- U, so these genotypes serves as a donor for further breeding programme to develop superior cultivars.