Determination of selection parameters for genetic improvement by evaluating F7 progenies of green chilli

Abstract

The experimental materials comprised of 27 advance breeding lines derived from eight inter-varietal crosses and six varieties including ‘Surajmukhi’ as standard check. The materials were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications during summer 2017. PCV and GCV were high marketable green fruit yield/plant (30.75 and 31.35%, respectively). Similarly, it showed high heritability along with high genetic advance. However, in general, high heritability along with moderate PCV, GCV and genetic advance were observed for majority of the traits. Green fruit yield/plant showed positive and significant correlations with fruit length, fruit girth, fruit width, leaf width, plant height, average green fruit weight, number of marketable green fruits/ plant and capsaicin content at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Marketable green fruits/plant had the maximum positive direct effect on marketable green fruit yield per plant followed by average green fruit weight while leaf length, plant height and secondary branches/plant also contributed directly to a limited extent at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Further, marketable green fruits/plant followed by average green fruit weight had the maximum indirect contribution to the total positive association. Thus, selection for these traits should be taken as a criterion for yield improvement in chilli.