Varietal evaluation of Chilli (Capsicum annuum) for growth, yield and quality in Prayagraj agro climatic condition

Abstract

The present study, titled “Varietal Evaluation of Chilli (Capsicum annuum) for Growth, Yield, and Quality under Prayagraj Agro-Climatic Conditions,” was conducted from January to May 2024 at the experimental field of the Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Its primary objective was to evaluate growth parameters, yield potential, fruit quality, and the economic viability of twelve chilli hybrids: TEJASWINI, TMPH 489, TMPH 409, TMPH 477, TMPH 437, TMPH 2448, VNR-305, KSP-1352, KSP-1350, HYBRID EAGLE, SHRAVANI-301, and F1-6106. The experiment was laid out using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Significant variation was observed across hybrids in parameters such as plant height, branching, flowering time, fruit traits, and nutritional quality. Among the evaluated cultivars, TMPH 489 (H₂) exhibited outstanding performance in terms of growth vigor, early flowering, fruit number and size, overall yield, total soluble solids (TSS), and ascorbic acid content. These results identify TMPH 489 as a highly promising hybrid for achieving superior productivity and fruit quality under the prevailing agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.