Genotypic character relationship and phenotypic path coefficient analysis in chili pepper genotypes grown under tropical condition.
BACKGROUND
Studies on genotypic and phenotypic correlations among characters of crop plants are useful in planning, evaluating and setting selection criteria for the desired characters in a breeding program. The present study aimed to estimate the phenotypic correlation coefficients among yield and yield attributed characters and to work out the direct and indirect effects of yield-related characters on yield per plant using path coefficient analysis. Twenty-six genotypes of chili pepper were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications.


RESULTS
Yield per plant showed positive and highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) correlations with most of the characters studied at both the phenotypic and genotypic levels. By contrast, disease incidence and days to flowering showed a significant negative association with yield. Fruit weight and number of fruits exerted positive direct effect on yield and also had a positive and significant (P ≤ 0.01) correlation with yield per plant. However, fruit length showed a low negative direct effect with a strong and positive indirect effect through fruit weight on yield and had a positive and significant association with yield.


CONCLUSIONS
Longer fruits, heavy fruits and a high number of fruits are variables that are related to higher yields of chili pepper under tropical conditions and hence could be used as a reliable indicator in indirect selection for yield. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Magaji G
MG
Usman
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.|Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Mohd Y
MY
Rafii
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Mohammad Y
MY
Martini
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Yusuff
Y
Oladosu
Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Faculty Of Technical and Vocational Studies, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), 35900, Tanjong Malim Perak, Malaysia.
Pedram
P
Kashiani
D000383:Agriculture; D018533:Biomass; D001947:Breeding; D002212:Capsicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D035264:Flowers; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development*; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D000069600:Plant Breeding; D063245:Plant Development; D010935:Plant Diseases; D014329:Tropical Climate
Capsicum spp; Cause-effect relationship; chili breeding; correlation