Heterosis and combining ability studies for yield and horticultural traits in bell pepper Capsicum annuum L var grossum Sendt under protected environment

Abstract

The present investigation entiled Heterosis and combining ability studies for yield and horticultural traits in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.) under protected environment was carried out in 25×10 m modified naturally ventilated polyhouse during summer- autumn, 2012 and 2013 in Randomized Block Design having three replications to ascertain the quantum of genetic variability available in the bell pepper genotypes, gather information regarding the type of gene action and identify potential parental lines and cross combinations for protected environment on the basis of combining ability and magnitude of heterosis for different traits, viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, days to first harvest, number of marketable fruits per plant, pericarp thickness (mm), lobes per fruit, fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), average fruit weight (g), marketable fruit yield per plant (kg), plant height (cm), harvest duration (days), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) and capsaicin content (%). High estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for number of marketable fruits per plant, marketable fruit yield per plant, ascorbic acid content and capsaicin content indicating the presence of substantial variability for the traits and thereby ensuring ample scope for improvement of these traits through phenotypic selection. The high estimates of heritability coupled with high estimates of genetic advance (as per cent of mean) were observed for marketable fruit yield per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant and ascorbic acid content, which indicated the importance of additive gene action for the inheritance of these traits. On the basis of hybrid vigour, the cross combinations viz., Kashmir Sel-1 (L2) × Solan Bharpur (T1), ARCH-19 (L1) × Solan Bharpur (T1) and UHFSP(Y)-11 (L11) × Yolo Wonder (T3) were observed to be potential crosses exhibiting highly significant standard heterosis for marketable fruit yield per plant and most of its component traits. The cross combinations viz., ARCH-19 (L1) × Solan Bharpur (T1), DARL-10 (L9) × California Wonder (T2) and UHFSP(Y)-11 (L11) × Yolo Wonder (T3) were the top three crosses which exhibited good specific combining ability effects, maximum desirable heterosis and per se performance in respect of marketable fruit yield per plant and number of marketable fruits per plant and can be further exploited for genetic improvement of bell pepper. For all the traits studied, there was preponderance of non-additive gene action which reaffirms the importance of hybrids in bell pepper. newline newline newline