Characterization and diversity analysis of underutilized <em>Capsicum chinense</em> L. accessions in Sri Lanka

Chili is one of the most needed spices worldwide, and consumers use it in different quantities to suit their taste and aroma across continents. Among more than thirty Capsicum species, five species are domesticated, and Capsicum annum, Capsicum chinense, and Capsicum frutescence are mainly cultivated for their unique pungency. While Capsicum annum is widely cultivated and being improved in different directions, C. frutescens and C. chinense are underutilized, and their potential for commercialization and new variety development has not been thoroughly evaluated or documented in Sri Lanka. This study conducted a comparative assessment of twenty C. chinense accessions for thirty-one qualitative and quantitative characteristics at two consecutive growth seasons. TJ112, TJ123, TJ59, and TJ105 recorded the best per plant yield of 231.53 g, 219.3 g, 178.36 g, and 156.63 g, respectively. TJ123 recorded the largest fruits with maximum fruit circumference, fruit length, seeds per fruit, fruit wall thickness, and weight. The weight per fruit, corolla length, and fruit wall thickness significantly contributed to the yield increment, and these intercorrelated traits are the yield determinants of C. chinense. Two principal components derived from the quantitative traits explained 71.04% of cumulative variance. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering formed four distinct clusters, while cluster IV comprised the best-yielding accessions. These are potential accessions for producing high-yielding C. chinense varieties. Future studies should focus on evaluating their capsaicin content, aroma, other chemical properties, and environmental resilience. Expanding the collection of C. chinense accessions will enhance the chances of selecting better accessions.