Studies on genetic variability in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Germplasm

The present studies on genetic variability in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasm was conducted at AICRP on Vegetable Crops, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during rabi season of 2017-18 with an objective to study the nature and extent of genetic variability in chilli genotypes for improvement in fruit yield and yield attributing traits. Thirty four genotypes were evaluated in a RBD with three replication. The genotypes were evaluated on the basis of 17 parameters that included growth, yield and quality parameters. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference among 34 genotypes for all the character studied indicating the presence of variability in the studied material. The GCV and PCV were more in fruit yield per plant (37.02% and 40.75%), average dry fruit weight (19.25 and 20.42%) and average fresh fruit weight (33.10 and 34.38%). High heritability was recorded with TSS (96.18%), average dry fruit weigh (92.69%), and average fresh fruit weight (91.33%); genetic advance as percentage of mean was higher in case of dry fruit yield per plant (69.28%) and average dry fruit weight (65.64%).