Combining Ability and Heterosis for Qualitative Traits in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)  

S. K. Jindal , D. Kaur , S. Dhaliwal , N. Chawla
Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India-141004
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Horticulture, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/ijh.2015.05.0005
Received: 04 Mar., 2015    Accepted: 08 May, 2015    Published: 20 May, 2015
© 2015 BioPublisher Publishing Platform
This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:

Jindal et al., 2015, Combining Ability and Heterosis for Qualitative Traits in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), International Journal of Horticulture, 2015, Vol.5, No.5 1-13 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2015.05.0005)

Abstract

Eight parents were crossed in half diallel design to develop 28 F1hybrids and these hybrids along with 8 parents like MS 341, SL 461, DL 161, SL 462, SD 463, PP 402, PP 403, VR 521 and four, commercial checks viz., CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier were evaluated for eight traits in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. The results from present investigation revealed that the hybrids which were found superior on the basis of per se performance were also found best specific combiners as well as heterotic over the commercial checks. The present study also investigates that non-additive gene effects had greater role in controlling the inheritance of quality traits.

Keywords
Chilli; Combining ability; Gene effects; Heterosis; Quality traits
Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) forms an indispensable adjunct in every home of tropical world as it provides a spicy taste, pungency and adds appealing colour to the food preparation. The pungency of chilli is due to an alkaloid “capsaicin” present in the placenta of fruit that has diverse prophylactic and therapeutic uses in allopathic and ayurvedic medicine. They are used against tonsillitis, diphtheria, loss of appetite, flatulence, intermittent fevers, atonic gout, rheumatism, sore throat, swelling and hardened tumours. The red colour of chilli fruit is due to presence of carotenoid pigments mainly consists of capsanthin and capsorubin (Kumar et al., 2003) but chlorophyll pigment is responsible for green colour. Transformation of fruit colour from green to red during ripening is due to transition from chloroplast to chromoplast in the exocarp (Monser and Matile, 1997). The chilli extract produced by processing of chilli is called as chilli oleoresin. The processed food industries in the West are shifting to chilli oleoresin rather than their ground form because the oleoresin offers uniform quality, longer shelf life and lesser freight charges. Further, the flavor strength can be controlled by adjusting concentration of the most significant constituents in the oleoresins. The paprika oleoresin is gaining more importance in the food industries as a natural food colour in place of synthetic colour whereas, pungent oleoresin is useful for pharmaceutical purpose. Keeping in view the market demand, chilli oleoresin has vast demand in pharmaceutical and food industry (Singh et al., 2003). Growers and processors of chilli differ in the quality criteria they apply, the former desiring high yields, lack of diseases and pests and good fruit colour and the latter favouring good appearance, storage quality, processing quality and nutritional quality. Quality components of chilli and paprika include red fruit colour, vitamin content and pungency. Colour is an important quality parameter of consumer preference. Almost all Indian recipes include red chilli powder as it imparts good colour to variety of dishes. Chilli are considered to be rich source of vitamin C, vitamin A which is important antioxidants (Howard et al., 1994). It is also a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, sugars and minerals. Apart from this, chilli is credited with many virtues, since it has a great medicinal value (Nadakarni, 1927). They are also used for making chutney and frying with gram dal paste, for this purpose non-pungent types are preferred. Non-pungent chilli varieties have high sugar content, which are generally characterized by thick pericarp, less pungency, less seed numbers and generally medium size.
India, being the largest chilli producer has vast potentiality to increase production and promote export besides meeting its domestic requirements. The genus capsicum is often-cross pollinated crop and hence exhibits wide variability for different quantitative and qualitative traits (Parann et al., 2004; Gupta et al., 2009; Singh and Pan, 2009; Datta and Jana, 2010; Sharma et al., 2010). One of the methods to improve the quality traits is heterosis breeding. Heterosis has been exploited in large number of vegetable crops including chillies. Heterosis breeding is the quickest method for enhancing production and productivity. The expression of heterosis may be due to factors such as heterozygosity, allelic interaction viz., dominance or overdominance, non-allelic interaction or epistasis and maternal interactions. Jinks and Hayman (1953) and Griffing (1956) have described analysis of diallel crosses which provide rapid overall evaluation of certain genetic relationship such combining ability among the parents and their crosses entering diallel crosses. The diallel analysis also enables the breeder to provide the behaviour of a cross in further generations by making use of F1 itself. Diallel cross approach being quick and efficient to estimate the combining ability, mode of reproduction and components of variance was adopted to investigate quality characters. Keeping these facts in view, the present investigation was planned and executed to identify the superior hybrids in respect of quality traits in different genotypes of chilli following half-diallel mating design.
1 Results and Discussion
1.1 Estimates of general combining ability effects of parents
For dry matter content, three lines showed significant and positive GCA values and thus adjudged as gca. These were DL 161 (1.97), PP 403 (0.74) and MS 341 (0.38). Two lines SD 463 (14.82) and MS 341 (10.06) exhibited highly significant positive desirable GCA values and thus considered as gca for ascorbic acid in green fruits whereas three lines viz. MS 341 (5.51), SD 463 (3.60) andPP 402 (3.04) showed highly significant and positive general combining ability effects for ascorbic acid in red fruits and thus considered as gca for the trait. Ascorbic acid concentration and values was found around 50% higher in red ripe chilli-pepper fruits as compared to green chilli peppers. These results were agreed according to the data reported by Osuna-Garcia et al. (1998); Kumar and Tata (2009); Mar­tinez et al. (2005). For capsaicin content in powder, the genotypes namely PP 402 (0.05) and DL 161 (0.03) have shown significant and positive GCA values, four genotypes SL 461 (2.33), PP 403 (1.16), VR 521 (0.78) and PP 402 (0.74 for oleoresin content, two genotypes PP 402 (0.20) and DL 161 (0.13) for capsaicin in oleoresin, four Lines SL 462 (14.11), DL 161 (9.28), PP 402 (7.45) and VR 521 (1.87) for colouring matter in powder, three genotypes SL 462 (67.94), VR 521 (27.60) and PP 403 (3.87) for colouring matter in oleoresin and thus were considered as good gca for the traits. Singh and Hundal (2001) identified Punjab Lal had the best GCA effect for dry matter content, capsaicin content in powder and capsaicin content in oleoresin. Do Rego et al. (2009) reported Genitor 24 and 50 as good combiners for dry matter content. Bhagyalakshmi et al. (1991) reported LCA 960, LCA 206 and G 4 were the best general combiner for ascorbic acid in green fruits. Khadi (1983) found Jwala, Sankeshwar, ICIB-190 and EC-764592 with significant general combining ability for ascorbic acid content in ripe fruits. Lohithaswa et al. (2001) reported that the genotypes 1HR-1822-1/3-1/5, Pant C-1 and PMR- 57 were gca for capsaicin content. Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008) recorded the parental lines Arka Lohit and S-1 to be good combiners for capsaicin in powder and Arka Abir and Co 4 as gca for oleoresin. Singh and Hundal (2001) reported S-2529 and LLS as gca for oleoresin content whereas the genotypes S-2529 and S-2530 for colouring matter in powder and colouring matter in oleoresin (Table 1).

 


Table 1 General combining ability effects of parents for quality characters in chilli

1.2 Estimates of specific combining ability effects of crosses
Significant and positive SCA values were showed by twelve hybrids for dry matter content. Among the crosses showing significant and desirable SCA effects, the cross combination DL 161 x PP 403 involved both the parents with significant and positive GCA effects. Thus, there is an ample scope of development of true breeding lines with high dry matter content. Top six hybrids based on SCA effects were SL 462 x SD 463 (5.68), SL 461 x SL 462 (5.08), PP 403 x VR 521 (4.43), MS 341 x PP 403 (4.17), MS 341 x SL 462 (3.52), MS 341 x SD 463 (3.52) (Table 2). The SCA effects for ascorbic acid in green fruit were significant and positive for seven crosses. Among these cross combinations no cross involved both the parents with significant and desirable GCA effect. Top five hybrids on the basis of SCA effects are SL 461 x VR 521 (55.05), SL 461 x DL 161 (52.08), SL 462 x SD 463 (42.63), SD 463 x PP 402 (34.09) and MS 341 x DL 161 (25.90). In case of ascorbic acid in red fruits, SCA effects were significant and positive in fifteen crosses. Among these cross combinations two crosses MS 341 x SD 463 and MS 341 x PP 403 involves both parents with significant and positive GCA effects. The other crosses showing significant and positive SCA effects have either one parent with significant and desirable GCA values or both the parents with non-significant GCA effects. Best five hybrids based on SCA effect for ascorbic acid in red fruit were SL 462 x VR 521 (45.17), SD 463 x VR 521 (25.92), MS 341 x PP 402 (24.78), PP 402 x PP 403 (20.37) and MS 341 x SD 463 (18.10).


Table 2 Specific combining ability effects of the hybrids for quality characters

Out of twenty eight crosses, six crosses showed significant and positive SCA effects for capsaicin in powder. The significant hybrids based on SCA effects are SL 461 x VR 521 (0.40), DL 161 x PP 402 (0.38), MS 341 x PP 403 (0.13), SL 462 x SD 463 (0.07) and SL 461 x PP 402 (0.05). Similarly for oleoresin content, 12 crosses recorded significant and positive SCA effects. Among these crosses, three cross combinations SL 461 x PP 402, SL 461 x PP 403 and PP 402 x VR 521 involved both the parents with highly significant and positive GCA effects. Thus, these crosses showing both the parents with significant and desirable GCA effects could serve as a source material to derive true breeding lines with high oleoresin content from the segregating populations. Top five hybrids on the basis of SCA effects were SL 461 x PP 403 (5.71), MS 341 x VR 521 (5.54), SL 461 x PP 402 (3.77), DL 161 x SL 462 (3.76) and SL 461 x SL 462 (3.27). Out of twenty eight crosses, seven crosses showed significant and positive SCA effects for capsaicin in oleoresin. Among these, the cross combination DL 161 x PP 402 displayed significant and positive SCA effects, also involved both the parents with significant and desirable GCA effects. Best five hybrids based on SCA effects were SL 461 x VR 521 (1.70), DL 161 x PP 402 (1.60), MS 341 x PP 403 (0.53), SL 462 x SD 463 (0.32) and SL 461 x PP 402 (0.21).For colouring matter in powder, thirteen crosses out of twenty eight crosses showed significant and positive SCA effects and thus were adjudged as good specific combiners. Top five hybrids on the basis of SCA effects were SL 461 x VR 521 (43.22), SD 463 x VR 521 (26.18), MS 341 x SD 463 (25.55), SL 461 x PP 402 (22.40) and MS 341 x PP403 (20.22). For colouring matter in oleoresin, the cross combinations SL 462 x PP 403 and PP 403 x VR 521 showed positive and significant SCA values and involved both the parents with highly significant and desirable GCA effects. Top five hybrids on the basis of SCA effects were PP 403 x VR 521 (191.26), DL 161 x SL 462 (165.87), SL 461 x PP 402 (149.75), SL 462 x SD 463 (140.60) and SL 462 x PP 402 (113.31).
Dhillon (1994) reported good x average and good x poor combinations resulted in high SCA effects for dry matter content. Singh and Hundal (2001) reported the highly significant SCA effects in the cross Lt-2 x S-2545 for dry matter followed by MS-12 x ELS-82 and Punjab Guchhedar x Lorai. They also observed that the GCA combinations resulting in high SCA effects were mostly involving good x poor combiners. Park and Takahasi (1980) reported that hybrids were intermediate to their parents for the trait capsaicin content. Lohithaswa et al. (2000) observed that the cross Pant C-1 x Pusa Jwala had maximum value of SCA effects for capsaicin content. Singh and Hundal (2001) observed the cross Punjab Guchhedar x S-2545 as the best specific combiner for capsaicin content followed by MS-12 x Punjab Surkh and Lt-2 x I-16. They also observed that good x poor and poor x average GCA combinations resulted in high SCA effects. They also recorded highly significant SCA effects in the cross Lt-2 x RHCH for oleoresin followed by MS-12 x S-2530 and MS 12 x Lorai. They observed that good x good and good x poor combinations resulted in high SCA values for oleoresin content. Singh and Hundal (2001) also observed highly significant SCA effect in the cross Lt-2 x ELS-82 for capsaicin in oleoresin followed by Punjab Guchhedar x S-2529 and Punjab Guchhedar x Ooty Round. They also revealed good x good and poor x average GCA combinations resulted in high SCA effects for capsaicin in oleoresin and poor x poor GCA combinations resulted in high SCA effects for colouring matter in oleoresin. Similarly, et al. (2005) reported the crosses Tiwari x Arka Abhir, Tiwari x ArkaLohit and RHRC-50-1 x PMR-57 having significant SCA effects for oleoresin content. They also identified the crosses PMR-14 x Byadgi Kaddi, PMR-19 x PMR-39 and Tiwari x Punjab Guchhedar having significant SCA effects for colouring matter content. Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008) reported that the cross Bydagi Kaddi x Co 4 had the highest SCA effects for oleoresin content followed by Arka Lohit x S 1 and Arka Lohit x Arka Abhir. They also reported that crosses MDU Y x Co 4, Arka Lohit x Byadgi Kaddi and Byadgi Kaddi x Co 4 had significant and positive SCA effects for total extractable color.
1.3 Combining ability analysis using Hayman’s graphical approach
The estimates of components of variation revealed that both additive (D) and non-additive (H1 and H2) were important for most of the characters studied (Table 3 and 4). This is in harmony with the results of the combining ability analysis. However, the magnitude of non-additive components was more than additive components for most of the traits. The genetic component t2 (Table 4) was non-significant for all the traits under study which indicated the absence of non-allelic interactions in these traits.


Table 3 Components of genetic variance for different characters
 


Table 4 Ratio’s of component of genetic variance for different characters

The dominant components H1 and H2 (Table 3) were significant for dry matter content, ascorbic acid content in green fruits, ascorbic acid in red fruits, capsaicin in powder andcapsaicin in oleoresin; suggesting only non-additive components of variance were significant and therefore more important than the additive one which was indicated by degree of dominance (H1/D)0.5 as its value is more than unity for these traits (Table 4) which suggest over dominance. Besides, for oleoresin content, colouring matter in powder and colouring matter in oleoresin; the additive component (D) as well as dominant components (H1 and H2) were significant (Table 3), suggesting that both additive and non-additive gene effects were important for this traitbut the dominant component was more important than additive one, which was also confirmed by degree of dominance (H1/D)0.5 as its value is more than unity for these traits (Table 4) which suggest over dominance. The magnitude of H was greater than that of D for all the characters which also described preponderance of dominant type of gene action determining their inheritance. The positive F value (Table 3) for all quality traits under study suggested the more frequency of dominant genes in the parents than recessive ones, which were asymmetrically distributed as shown by the ratioof H2/4H1 which was less than 0.25 for all traits (Table 4). This low value of degree of dominance (< 0.25) signifying unequal sequence of genes with positive and negative effects at loci displaying dominance among parents which was assured by H1 – H2 value being not equal to zero. The ambi-directional dominance effect and the uncorrelated distribution of genes among parents may be one of the causes for low estimates of this ratio (Mather and Jinks, 1971). Non-significant values of E revealed that environment did not play any role in the expression of these characters. The proportion of dominant and recessive alleles in the parents (Table 4) for all the traits under study as depicted by the formula (4DH1) 0.5+F/(4DH1) 0.5 -F) also suggested the excess of dominant genes than recessive ones in the parents.The approximate number of effective factors (genes or gene groups) exhibiting dominance is measured by h2 / H2 ratio. This estimate was less than unity for all the traits except colouring matter in oleoresin indicated that these characters were controlled by one major gene group whereas colouring matter in oleoresin was controlled by more than two major gene groups. Rao and Chonkar (1982a); Singh and Hundal (2001); Sousa and Maluf (2003) reported that non-additive gene effects had greater role in controlling the inheritance of dry matter. The predominance of non-additive gene action in governing capsaicin content was reported by Lohithaswa et al. (2001); Singh and Hundal (2001); Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008). Singh and Hundal (2001); Saritha et al. (2005) reported non-additive gene control for oleoresin content, colouring matter in powder and colouring matter in oleoresin.
1.4 Estimation of true heterosis over better parent and standard checks for quality traits
Fruit dry matter is very important for processing industry, since a large proportion of the pepper produced in the world is used in the form of powder. Best materials for processing purposes should show the highest percentage of dry matter (Sousa and Maluf, 2003). Out of 28 hybrids 8, 13, 19, 7 and 13 hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis (Table 5) over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively. Best three heterotic hybrids over better parent were PP 403 x VR 521 (28.70) followed by MS 341 x PP 403 (21.90), SL 461 x SL 462 (21.37). The best heterotic hybrids over the standard were MS 341 x PP 403 followed by DL 161 x PP 403 and SL 461 x DL 161. These hybrids were also superior on the basis of the per se performance. Significant positive heterosis for dry matter was recognized by Lippert (1975); Bhagyalakshmi et al. (1991), whereas, Anand et al.(2001) reported positive heterosis for dry matter over mid parent in 25 hybrids but only the cross PMR 28 x IHR 1208 exhibited positive heterosis. Singh (2001) observed -17.79% heterosis for dry matter content.


Table 5 Mean performance and percent heterosis of F1 hybrids over better parent (BP), standard checks CH-1, CH-3,Rudra and Soldier for dry matter content (%) and ascorbic acid in green fruits (mg/100g fresh weight)

Out of 28 hybrids, 2 and 15 hybrids showed significant positive heterosis over better parent and CH-1 for ascorbic acid in green fruits. None of the hybrid showed significant positive standard heterosis over CH-3. Only 7 hybrids showed significant positive standard heterosis over Rudra and Soldier ranged from 21.82 (MS 341 x SL 461) to 49.09 (SL 461 x DL 161) in both. The superior hybrids on the basis ofper se performance and heterosis over the checks were SL 461 x DL 161 followed by SL 461 x VR 521 and SD 463 x PP 402. Bhagyalakshmi et al. (1991) recorded high mid parent and better parent heterosis in the cross LCA 206 x LCA 960 for the trait.
For ascorbic acid in red fruits, out of 28 hybrids, 9, 8, 14, 9 and 8 hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis (Table 6) over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively. Top three heterotic hybrids were SD 463 x VR 521 (32.29) over better parent followed by PP 402 x PP 403 (26.93) and SL 462 x VR 521 (29.41). The hybrid combination SL 462 x VR 521 was superior in terms of mean performance and also best heterotic over the checks followed by MS 341 x PP 402 and MS 341 x SD 463. Vandana et al. (2002) identified cross Yolo wonder x CW-51 which exhibited significant positive heterosis for ascorbic acid content (14.21%) at red ripe stage. RANI, 1996 identified six entries namely Ducle, Examba, Shankeshwar, Arun, 73 Kashmiri local and Kalianpur Chaman exceeded Pusa Jawala in their ascorbic acid content. Similarly Rao and Chhonkar (1982b) identified thirteen crosses Kovilpatti-l x CA 1068, Kovilpatti-1 x G3, Kovilpatti-1 x LIC 23, CA 1068 x Kalianpur-1, G3 x Kalianpur-1, G3 x G4, G3 x Jwala, G3 x CA 960, G3 x LIC 23, G5 x Jwala, Kalianpur-1 x G4, Kalianpur- x CA 960, C x LIC 23 exhibited significant positive mid parent heterosis ranging from 2.21 to 30.93 per cent.


Table 6 Mean performance and percent heterosis of F1 hybrids over better parent (BP), standard checks CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier for Ascorbic acid in red fruits (mg/100 g fresh weight) and capsaicin in powder (%)

Significant positive heterosis was showed by 6, 5, 5, 4 and 23 hybrids for capsaicin in powder over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively. Best heterotic hybrids were SL 461 x VR 521 (71.75) over better parent followed by DL 161 x PP 402 (62.56) and PP 403 x VR 521 (19.02). The hybrid combinations DL 161 x PP 402 gave best heterotic and per se performance over standard checks followed by SL 461 x VR 521 and MS 341 x PP 403. Positive heterosis for capsaicin was reported by Mishra et al. (1991); Sousa and Maluf (2000). Milerue and Nikornpun (1999) concluded that pungency is controlled by a group of two dominant genes. Singh (2001) observed negative heterosis for capsaicin content with the highest value in cross Punjab Guchhedar x I-16 (-30%). The negative values for capsaicin content in powder revealed that many genes control the character and additive gene action plays an important role. Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008) recorded a range of significant heterosis from -53.57 to 202.38 per cent over standard check.
For oleoresin content;9, 13, 15, 16 and10 hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis over better parent as well as standard checks viz., CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively. The top three hybrid combinations SL 461 x PP 403, SL 461 x PP 402 and SL 461 x SL 462 were superior on the basis of per se performance and also found heterotic over better parent as well as over the standard and commercial checks. Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008) recorded a range of significant heterosis from -9.43 to 21.83 per cent over standard check.
Five, six, five, four and twenty three hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively for capsaicin in oleoresin among 28 hybrids (Table 7). Best heterotic hybrids over better parent were SL 461 x VR 521 (71.58) followed by DL 161 x PP 402 (62.48) and PP 403 x VR 521 (18.90). However, the cross combinations DL 161 x PP 402, SL 461 x VR 521 and MS 341 x PP 403 were found heterotic over standard and commercial checks and was also superior in terms of their mean performance.


Table 7 Mean performance and percent heterosis of F1 hybrids over better parent (BP), standard checks CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier for Oleoresin content (%) and Capsaicin in oleoresin (%)

Out of twenty eight; 8, 19, 10, 5 and 9 hybrids were found significantly heterotic in desirable direction over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively for colouring matter in powder. Top three heterotic hybrids were SD 463 x VR 521 (28.76) over better parent followed by SL 461 x VR 521 (22.49) and MS 341 x PP 403 (21.93). The top three cross combinations SL 462 x VR 521, DL 161 x PP 402 and SL 461 x VR 521 were found heterotic over all the checks. Lippert et al. (1975) showed non-significant increase in the colouring matter of hybrids as compared to their parents. Prasath and Ponnuswami (2008) recorded a range of significant heterosis from -53.09 to 33.03 per cent over standard check.
Significant positive heterosis over better parent, CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier, respectively were showed by 20, 7, 10, 7 and 3 hybrids for colouring matter in oleoresin (Table 8). Best heterotic hybrids were PP 402 x PP 403 (66.25) over better parent followed by SD 463 x PP 402 (66.16) and SD 463 x PP 403 (57.17). Best heterotic hybrids over standard and commercial checks were DL 161 x SL 462, PP 403 x VR 521 and SL 462 x SD 463. However, these crosses were also found better on the basis of per se performance.


Table 8 Mean performance and percent heterosis of F1 hybrids over better parent (BP), standard checks CH-1, CH-3, Rudra and Soldier for colouring matter in powder (ASTA) and colouring matter in oleoresin (ASTA)

2 Materials and Methods
The present investigation was carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2010-2011. The experimental field is situated at 30°- 54’ north latitude, 70°- 45’ east longitude and at an altitude of 247 m above sea level. The soil texture was of the sandy loam. The F1 (28) crosses were made in a half-diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals) by using eight diverse parents. The experimental material comprising of 28 F1 hybrids, eight parental lines and four standard checks, CH-1 and CH-3 (released by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana) Rudra and Soldier (from Nunhem Seeds Private Ltd.) were sown in well-prepared nursery beds on 21st October, 2010. The transplanting was done in the field on 23rd February, 2011 in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The experimental material was transplanted at a distance of 75 x 45 cm. In each replication, there were ten plants in a row for each entry. Five plants were randomly selected from each treatment in each replication leaving a border plant at each corner and red fruits were harvested which were then analyzed for dry matter content (%), ascorbic acid in red fruits (mg/100g of fresh weight), oleoresin content (%), capsaicin in powder and in oleoresin (%), colouring matter in powder and in oleoresin (ASTA). Green fruits were harvested for analysis of ascorbic acid content.
The data was subjected to analysis for general and specific combining ability as method given by Griffing (1956). The graphic analysis for combining ability was based on the variance-covariance analysis following the methodology given by Hayman (1954). The heterosis was estimated as per cent deviation of F1 hybrid performance from the better parent as well as over standard check.
3 Conclusion
From the above results, the promising crosses based on combining ability and heterosis for different quality traits were MS 341 x PP 403 for dry matter content, SL 461 x DL 161 for ascorbic acid in green fruits, SL 462 x VR 521 for ascorbic acid in red fruits, DL 161x PP 402 for Capsaicin in powder, SL 461 x PP 403 for oleoresin content, DL 161 x PP 402 for capsaicin in oleoresin, SL 462 x VR 521 for colouring matter in powder and DL 161 x SL 462 for colouring matter in oleoresin. Thus, these best performing crosses have the potential of beingcommercially exploited at the farmers’ field. Also, the present study hadstressed preponderance of non-additive gene action registering over-dominance coupled with undesirable linkages. Heterosis breeding could be more useful to circumvent quality traits by developing hybrids. However, breeding procedures such as triple test cross, reciprocal recurrent selection, bi-parental mating and/or diallel selective mating which provide better opportunities for selections, recombination, dislocation of unworthy linkages and accumulation of favourable genes are proposed for amelioration in quality traits in chilli.
Authors' contributions
SKJ: Participated in the designing of the study and acted as chairperson to carry out the work under his guide lines and draft the manuscript; DK: Participated in carrying out the entire work as M. Sc. research program; MSD: Helped in collecting materials used in research programme; NC: Helped to analyzing biochemical parameters.
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