Study of correlations between component characters of production capacity of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. Grossum).

Cognition of correlations offers the possibility to evaluate complicated characters by evaluating the less complicated ones. Multiple correlations are useful in finding a balance between principal characters studied in breeding programs. The aim of the study was the evaluation of principal component characters of production capacity in a collection of 24 landraces of sweet pepper landraces from West Romania. Evaluated characters were: number of fruit per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, pulp thickness, pulp weight, number of seeds in fruit, production of fruits per plant. The evaluated collection presents incresed variability for number of fruits per plant, average weight of single fruit and fruit pulp weight. Production of fruit per plant, fruit diameter and fruit length are lower. Production of fruits per plant is influenced in proportion of 50% by fruit number and secondly by fruit diameter. Fruit diameter has a significant and major contribution (over 70%) on fruit weight, less important beeing the fruit length and diameter, pulp thickness. From simple regressions study we conclude that single fruit weight is influenced by fruit diameter and pulp thickness, and production per plant depends on number of fruits per plant and fruit diameter. Number of seeds per fruit is higher in longer fruit.