Gene Action and Combining Ability Effects on Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Hybrids

The analysis of combining ability effects and gene action related to yield and yield-contributing traits in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is crucial for selecting suitable parents to develop high-yielding chilli hybrids by identifying the key general and specific combiners. The present study was aimed at estimating the combining ability effects in 12 novel chilli hybrids for identification of best general combiners and specific combiners for yield and yield contributing traits. The results from line x tester analysis revealed the presence of considerable genetic variation with respect to yield and yield contributing traits. Analysis of variance for combining ability showed significant differences for plant height, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant and SCA variances were found to be higher than the GCA variance for all the traits except for fruit yield per plant. The ratio of σ2GCA/σ2SCA was less than one for all the traits except for fruit yield per plant indicating the preponderance of dominant gene action, which plays an important role in the exploitation of heterosis through hybrid breeding. The parents Tejaswini, Ruby, Mohana, VNR-1366 and VNR-305 were found to be good general combiners based on significant GCA effects for yield and yield contributing traits. The SCA effects expressed the combinations viz., Tejaswini x VNR-1366, Tejaswini x VNR-145 and Ruby x VNR-1366 as good specific combiners for number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant. The results of the current study would help plan for successful hybrid breeding programme for chilli crop improvement.