Combining ability analysis in chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

The experiments was undertaken to study the combining ability for yield and yield attributing traits in chilli. The experimental material consisted of seven parents and 42 F1s produced in diallel mating design including reciprocals. Analysis of variance for combining ability exhibited the significance for gca and sca effects for all the characters studied. BC-28 was good general combiner for both red as well as green fruit yield plant-1, Konkan kirti and Jayanti good general combiner for red fruit yield, while Jwala and Selection-2 were the best general combiners for green fruit yield plant-1(g) which can be exploited breeding programme. The highest sca effect for red fruit yield plant-1 in F1 generation was noted in the reciprocal cross of BC-28 x Konkan kirti, reciprocal cross of Selection-2 x PANT-C-3 and reciprocal cross of Selection-2 x konkan kirti. The maximum sca effect for green fruit yield plant-1 in F1 generation was recorded in reciprocal cross of Selection-2 x DPL-C-4, reciprocal cross of Selection-2 x Konkan kirti and reciprocal cross of Jwala x BC-28, were the good specific combinations and would be used as a heterotic hybrids after rigorous screening through various yield, pest and disease screening trials.