GENERATION MEAN ANALYSIS FOR FRUIT YIELD AND COMPONENT TRAITS IN BELL PEPPER Capsicum annuum L var grossum Sendt

Abstract

newline The present investigation entitled Generation mean analysis for fruit yield and component traits in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.) was carried out with the objectives of getting the information on gene action for important fruit yield and component traits, inheritance of bacterial wilt resistance and to develop breeding material for selecting bacterial wilt resistant and horticulturally desirable progenies in the segregating generations. The experiments were carried out by utilizing six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of four crosses viz., EC-464107 × KS, EC-464115 × KS, EC-464107 × EC-464115 and EC-464107 × SH-I, evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during summer-rainy season, 2012. Simultaneously, the above experiment was also repeated in bacterial wilt sick plots alongwith susceptible checks Indira and California Wonder to work out the genetics of inheritance of bacterial wilt resistance. newlineThe results of scaling tests revealed that additive-dominance model was inadequate in all the crosses for all the traits. For gross fruit yield per plant, all the four cross combinations revealed positive and relatively higher magnitude of dominance [h] gene effects along with complementary gene action in the cross EC-464107 × EC-464115 and duplicate type of epistasis in the cross EC-464107 × SH-I whereas for marketable fruit yield per plant, the crosses EC-464107 × KS, EC-464115 × KS and EC-464107 × SH-I expressed higher magnitudes of dominance [h] gene effects along with complementary gene action in the former cross and duplicate type of epistasis in the latter. This suggested the usefulness of exploiting hybrid vigour in these crosses. For total fruits per plant, the magnitude of dominance [h] gene effects and additive × additive [i] gene interactions were positive and higher coupled with duplicate epistasis in the crosses EC-464107× KS, EC-464115 × KS and EC-464107 × SH-I whereas for marketable fruits per plant, all the four cross combinations exhibited positive and higher dominance [h] and additive × additive [i] gene interactions coupled with duplicate type of epistasis in the crosses viz., EC-464115 × KS, EC-464107 × EC-464115 and EC-464107 × SH-I. This suggested the exploitation of heterosis breeding as well as the selection of desirable seggregants through pedigree method in theses crosses. newline Genetics of bacterial wilt resistance revealed that single dominant gene governed bacterial wilt resistance in the cross EC-464107×SH-I whereas two genes with dominant and recessive epistasis in the crosses viz., EC-464107 × KS and EC-464115 × KS. Studies on extent of heterosis and mean performance suggested that the hybrid EC-464107 × SH-I was the most consistent for earliness while the cross EC-464107 × KS was more reliable for gross fruit yield and marketable fruit yield per plant. However, the hybrid EC-464115 × KS was the best for quality traits. These hybrids were also resistant to bacterial wilt and can be included for testing in multilocational trials before their release in bacterial wilt prone areas. newline newline