Abstract

                                A study was conducted on “Inbreeding depression for dry pod yield and its components in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)” at the Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, India during 2013-14. The investigation was carried out with six selected genotypes of chilli namely Arka Lohit, K 1, LCA 334, LCA 625, PKM 1 and Pusa Jwala. All the crosses also revealed inbreeding depression for most of the characters. These traits can be improved effectively through pedigree method of selection. In general, the crosses K 1 x PKM 1 and K 1 x Pusa Jwala were identified as promising hybrids since they depicted significant negative inbreeding depression for green and dry fruit yield and its important yield contributing characters. Low inbreeding depression for yield and yield related traits were exhibited by Pusa Jwala x PKM 1, LCA 625 x K 1and K 1 x Arka Lohit. The segregating materials generated during this study may be utilized for the identification and selection of desirable recombinants in advanced generations in order to develop high yielding varieties with specific attributes.

Key words : Chilli, Inbreeding depression, Segregating generation, Yield