GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF CHILLI (Capsicum spp.)

Abstract

The present research work was conducted to study the genetic diversity analysis of chilli during the period from November 2015 to April 2016 in rabi season in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. In this experiment 15 chilli genotypes were used as experimental materials. Mean performance, variability, correlation matrix, path analysis and genetic diversity analysis on different yield attributes and yield of chilli genotypes was estimated. The highest yield/plant (427.44 g) was observed in G3, while the lowest (242.89 g) from G14. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the yield contributing traits and yield. In correlation study, highly significant positive association was recorded for days to 1st flowering of chilli genotypes with plant height (0.369), number of fruits/plant (0.587), weight of individual fruit (0.634) and length of fruit (0.450). Path analysis revealed negative direct effect for days to 1st flowering (-0.148), number of seeds/fruit (-0.133) and weight of 1000 seeds (- 0.211), whereas positive direct effect for plant height (0.205), number of branches/plant (0.186), number of fruits/plant (0.132), weight of individual fruit (0.293), length of fruit (0.164) and diameter of fruit (0.078) on yield/plant. Diversity analysis revealed that Cluster I had the maximum 8 chilli genotypes and the lowest had in cluster IV which had a single genotype. Considering group distance and other agronomic performance special chilli of Bogra (G3), Local 1 (G6), SRCO 9 (G11), SRCO 5 (G14), Ca 001 (G1) and SRC 13 (G12) chilli genotypes may be suggested for further study for future hybridization program.