Multivariate assessment of genetic variability in Mundu chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) accessions for yield and quality traits

Mundu chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important rainfed spice cum vegetable crop cultivated in the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, valued for its yield stability and quality attributes. The present study evaluated 27 purified Mundu chilli genotypes collected from Ramanathapuram district to assess variability for yield and quality traits using multivariate approaches. The experiment was conducted over three consecutive years (2022–25) in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Significant variation was observed among genotypes for growth, phenological, yield and quality parameters. Among the accessions, CP7 (507.91 g), S6 (403.75 g) and CR8 (330.36 g) recorded superior yield performance, with CP7 producing the highest fruit yield per plant. Quality analysis revealed appreciable differences for dry matter, ascorbic acid, oleoresin, capsaicin and proline contents, with CP7 excelling in oleoresin, capsaicin and proline contents. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first four principal components accounted for 81.80 % of the total variability, with yield per plant and number of fruits per plant contributing most to genetic divergence. Correlation and biplot analyse highlighted number of fruits per plant, yield per plant, fruit weight and earliness traits as key selection criteria. The identified superior genotypes can be effectively utilised for varietal improvement and breeding programmes in Mundu chilli.