Genetic diversity exploration in (Capsicum annuum L.) sweet pepper germplasm through chemical and morphological characterization

The study assessed genetic variation in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), valued for its economic importance and diverse fruit types.With broad genetic diversity, it holds the potential for enhancing yield and nutrition through breeding.Ninety-five Capsicum genotypes were assessed for nine morphoagronomic and six biochemical traits across different growth stages using Biodiversity International descriptors and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists.The maximum yield/plant (1809.4g) was achieved by genotype 36595, and genotype 36606 exhibited the highest fruit weight (100.0 g).The maximum (11.0%) protein was recorded in 36582, while genotype 36633 had the highest fiber content (33.01 %).Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between fruit weight and width (r=0.75), and yield/plant correlated positively with plant height (r=0.85).Hierarchical cluster analysis identified six distinct clusters, with genotype 36584 as an outlier in Cluster I, genotype 36642 in Cluster II, genotype 30878 in Cluster III, genotype 36221 in Cluster IV, and genotype 36117 in Cluster VI.Principal component analysis (PCA) identified nine Principal components with eigenvalues >0.7, collectively explaining 89.97% of the variance.The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) described 41.33% of the overall variance, with PC1 explaining 27.90% and PC2 13.43%.Genotypes 36606, 36556, 36595, and 36582, showed higher diversity and were selected as promising candidates for breeding programs.This study highlights the genetic diversity of Capsicum annuum, aiding superior genotype selection for crop improvement.The findings contribute to genetic resource conservation and breeding strategies, potentially enhancing yield and nutritional content, addressing food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture.