MORPHOCENETIC DIVERSITY IN NATURAL POPULATION OF CHILL (capsicum spp)

Abstract

To study the degree of diversity in chili, an experiment was conducted in the growing season 2013-14 at the field Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Dhaka. Genetic divergence, heritability and genetic advance for 8 characters in 15 genotypes of chili (Capsicum spp 1..) were studied. Based on D2 values, the genotypes were grouped into 4 clusters. Grouping of genotypes in different clusters was not related to their geographical origin. Considerable amount of genotypic and phenotypie coefficients of variation was observed for plant height. no. of fruits per plant, fruil weight, and total yield, indicating existence of greater diversity for these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean and genetic coefficients of variation was observed in respect of plant height (98.5%). days to first flowering (95.68%). no of fruits per plant (99.79%). fruit weight (72.62%), fruit circumference (97.24%), fruit length (98.92%) etc. indicating that these characters are under control of additive gene or non-environmental effects and could be dependable for yield improvement in chilies. The maximum inter cluster distances was observed between cluster I and IV (76.42) followed by the distances between cluster II and IV. Therefore the genotypes from cluster II along with cluster III and cluster IV should be prioritized in future breeding prograni for having higher fruit yield.