Studies on variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing characters in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

In order to determine the magnitude of variability, 11 genotypes of chilli were evaluated at AICRP on Vegetable crops, Bhubaneswar centre. Through analysis of variance, a high significant difference was found for almost all characters indicating a greater opportunity of exploit variability. Genotypic and phenotypic variances were highest for fruit yield /plant followed by fruit weight and no. of fruits/plant. Phenotypic co- efficient of variation (PCV) and Genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) were maximum in case of no. of plants affected by leaf curl/plot followed by fruit weight and no. of wilted plants/plot. Heritability (bs) was highest for fruit weight followed by no. of fruits/plant and no. of borer affected fruits /plant. The maximum genetic advance (% of mean) was observed in case of no. of plants affected by leaf curl/plot followed by fruit weight and fruit borer/plant. Genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and predicted genetic gain were high for the characters fruit weight, leaf curl incidence, fruit borer incidence and no. of fruits/plant suggesting that additive gene action is responsible for expression of these characters.