Impact of Gametocides on Pollen Sterility and Growth Traits in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

This study, conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2023-2024, investigated the effects of gametocides on pollen sterility and plant growth in two chilli varieties, Jwalamukhi and Ujwala. The experiment followed a Factorial Completely Randomized Design with 18 treatments (2 varieties x 9 gametocide concentrations x 3 stages), replicated thrice. Pollen sterility was significantly affected by gametocide treatments, with Maleic Hydrazide (MH) at 200 ppm applied at 20+40 days after transplanting (DAT) resulting in the highest sterility in both varieties. Plant height also varied significantly, with the highest growth observed in Jwalamukhi treated with GA3 at 2.5% in stage III. The study found that GA3 increased plant height and branching, while MH treatments, especially at higher concentrations, reduced plant height, with Ujwala showing the most pronounced effect. These findings highlight the potential of gametocide treatments in modifying pollen sterility and growth traits in chilli plants.