Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out at vegetable research center of G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during the spring summer season of 2014 in randomized block design with three replication to assess genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean for various growth, yield and quality traits. Data were recorded on plant height, canopy width, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% fruiting, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, stalk length, fruit body length, fruit yield per plant, ascorbic acid content, TSS, Anthracnose incidence, LCV incidence and total fruit yield per hectare. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits studied indicating the presence of sufficient variability in the studied material. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and the difference between PCV and GCV was narrow for most of the characters revealing little influence of the environment in the expression of these traits. High magnitude of PCV and GCV were observed for days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, fruit body length, ascorbic acid, TSS, Anthracnose, leaf curl virus incidence and total fruit yield per hectare suggesting the existence of wide range of genetic variability in the genotypes for these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for all the traits except canopy width and stalk length revealed these traits are under the control of additive gene action and lower influence of environmental factor in the expression of these traits with possibility for genetic improvement through simple selection. © 2017, SPR, All Rights Reserved.