Combining ability analysis for seed yield and component traits in diallel crosses of red sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt)

The present study was aimed to estimate the combining ability of red sweet pepper genotypes for seed yield and its component traits so that the desirable genotypes and crosses can be utilized in future programmes. A field experiment was conducted during early summer, 2017 in Randomized Block Design with three replications under greenhouse with natural ventilation at research farm, department of Seed Science & Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan. Six parents and their fifteen F1 hybrids along with the standard check (Bomby) were evaluated using half-diallel mating design excluding reciprocals for seed yield traits in sweet pepper. The observations were recorded on number of seeds per fruit, seed weight per fruit, seed yield per plant, thousand seed weight and per cent seed recovery. Significant variations were noticed among all the genotypes for all the characters under study. The genotypes RSPUHF-2, RSPUHF-3 and RSPUHF-4 were good general combiners for number of seeds per fruit, seed weight per fruit, seed yield per plant and thousand seed weight. Amongst crosses RSPUHF-3 x RSPUHF-2 and RSPUHF-4 x RSPUHF-2 were found to be the best specific combinations for number of seeds per fruit, seed weight per fruit and thousand seed weight. However, the cross RSPUHF-7 x RSPUHF-4 was found to be best for seed yield per plant. The parents are identified on the basis of significant gca effects whereas, on the basis of significant sca effects and per se performance for seed yield per plant and some of its important components the crosses may be identified for release after multi location testing as it has found to be the most promising for exploitation of heterosis.