PSM-1: A high yielding bell pepper variety having seed production potential under North Indian plains

Abstract

Capsicum or bell pepper, botanically known as Capsicum annuum L var. grossum Sendt, is a member of family Solanaceae. It originated in Brazil in Tropical South America. Most peppers are bell-shaped; therefore, the name bell pepper is common. Bell pepper is sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as “sweet pepper”. However, sweet peppers come in a range of shapes from round to oblong to taper. Sweet pepper is one of the most popular, remunerative, widely grown and indispensable spice as well as high value vegetable crop grown for its immature fruits in most parts of the world especially in temperate regions of Central and South America and European countries, tropical and subtropical regions of Asian continent. Bell pepper is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and the optimum temperature for growth and development ranges between 20-250C and when day temperature rises above 320C and/or night temperature above 200C, great losses in yield occur due to reduced fruit set (Erickson and Markhart 2002). Capsicum was grown on an area of 46 thousand hectare with annual production of 288 thousand MT in India.