Neena Chawla

Combining Ability and Heterosis for Quality and Processing Traits in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Involving Male Sterile Lines

Non-availability of genetic male sterility (GMS) in genetically diverse genotypes and the problem of rouging fertile plants in hybrid plot necessitated the development and testing of new F1 hybrids of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility (CGMS) system and identifying good combiner inbred lines for transferring male sterility system in to them. Twelve inbred lines including a CGMS and a GMS line were crossed in a half-diallel fashion following Griffing’s method II and model 1 (fixed effect). All 78 genotypes were evaluated for eight quality traits for two consecutive years at Ludhiana, India. Pooled analysis revealed that variances for parent × year were non-significant for all traits except capsaicin in oleoresin and coloring matter in oleoresin, whereas variances attributable to hybrid × year and parent vs. hybrid × year were significant for all traits except dry matter content and oleoresin content. Both GCA × Y and SCA × Y interactions were significant for all traits except dry matter content. The GMS line was a good combiner for six traits and the CGMS line for only one trait. Better parent heterosis of high magnitude was detected for powder yield (275%) and oleoresin yield (309%). The hybrids having high powder yield coupled with high dry matter content and those having low pungency in oleoresin were identified. We recommend that male sterility system be transferred into a few good combiner lines for cost-effective hybrid seed production and for broadening the genetic base of male sterile lines.