Abstract

                                Chilli fruits do not have an abscission layer in pediceles and thus makes harvest difficult. without damage to the stem. Force, to be applied to detach the fruit in chillies, is a genetic factor and also associated with pedicel and fruit characters. Seventythree genotypes were screened and evaluated in a field trial at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore for pedicel length (PL), fruit length (FL), fruit diameter (FD) and fruit weight (FW). Inter-relationships among PL. FL. FD and FW were studied by correlation analysis. Wide variation among the traits was established suggesting that the differences were attributable to genetic factors: Genotypes with longer PL and lesser FD would be useful in breeding for cultivars possessing lesser diameter PD scar at pedicel attachment with the stem leading to easy fruit removal in harvesting especially while harvesting with machines.

Key words : Chilli (Capsicum annuum L), Pedicel Length, Pedicel Diameter, Fruit Length, Fruit Diameter, Fruit Weight, Correlation