Genetics of fruit yield and its component traits under different fruiting habit backgrounds in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The six basic generations (two parents, $\hbox {F}_{1}$, $\hbox {F}_{2}$ and backcrosses) of 14 crosses developed from nine parents differing in fruits $\hbox {node}^{-1}$ and fruit orientation were evaluated to decipher the genetics of three quantitative traits (average fruit weight, fruits $\hbox {plant}^{-1}$ and green fruit yield $\hbox {plant}^{-1})$ during the rainly season of 2016 and 2017. The magnitude and direction of the additive genetic effects [a], dominance genetic effects [d], magnitudes of additive genetic variance (${\upsigma }_{\mathrm{A}}^2 )$ and dominance genetic variance (${\upsigma }_{\mathrm{D}}^2 )$ varied with the genetic background of the crosses and traits. In the genetic background of crosses involving parents differing in fruit $\hbox {node}^{-1}$, the inheritance of average fruit weight, fruits $\hbox {plant}^{-1}$ and fruit yield $\hbox {plant}^{-1}$ were controlled by the genes with both additive and ambidirectional dominant effects. On the contrary, genes with only additive effects controlled the inheritance of average fruit weight, fruits $\hbox {plant}^{-1}$ and fruit yield $\hbox {plant}^{-1}$ in most genetic backgrounds of crosses involving parents differing in fruit orientation and those differing in both fruits $\hbox {node}^{-1}$ and fruit orientation. Further, the genes controlling the inheritance of all the traits are dispersed among the parents used in the investigation. These results are discussed in relation to strategies to be used in breeding chilli.