GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CORRELATION STUDIES IN THE F3 POPULATION OF THE CROSS JNA-1 AND BYADGI DABBI IN CHILLI (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)

conducted at the Postgraduate Research Block, Main Agricultural Sciences Station (MARS), University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur to determine the genetic variability and correlations for yield and its attributing traits in the F 3 population of chilli.Among the traits studied, a marked extent of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for length of the fruit, fruit width, number of fruits/plant, fruit weight/plant and dry fruit yield/plant, indicating substantial variability in these traits.High heritability (h) coupled with a high genetic advance as a percent of the mean (GAM) was observed for the count of primary branches, length of the fruit, fruit width, number of fruits/plant, fruit weight/plant and dry fruit yield/plant, suggesting these traits are primarily governed by additive gene action.Dry fruit yield/plant showed a positive and significant correlation with the number of fruits/plant, fruit width and fruit weight/plant, and a positive but non-significant correlation with length of the fruit.Therefore, the traits with high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values, along with high heritability (h) and genetic advance as a percent of the mean (GAM) and positive correlations with dry fruit yield/plant are considered crucial for selection to effectively enhance dry fruit yield/plant in chilli.