Abstract

In a correlation analysis in chillies, all the characters under study except per cent disease index were positively associated with marketable fruit yield per plant in two sets of crosses. This suggests that least incidence of anthracnose would result in more marketable fruit yield. Total phenol was found to possess a strong negative association with disease incidence in both direct and reciprocal crosses suggesting that total phenol plays a significant role in reducing disease incidence. Capsaicin was positively associated with total phenol content which imparts resistance thus paving way for simultaneous selection for yield, quality and resistance

Keywords: Chillies, correlation analysis, disease index, authracnose, marketable fruit yield