Development of F1 hybrids resistant to viruses in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Chilli is cultivated as one of the important cash crops throughout India, grown both as vegetable and as a spice. Mixed infection of viruses in chillies is a common feature in nature, hence there is a strong need to develop multiple virus resistant variety/hybrids with desirable fruit type. In the present investigation, in order to develop chilli F1 hybrids resistant to multiple viruses with high yielding ability, eleven lines, five testers and fifty five F1 hybrids along with two standard checks and a susceptible check were evaluated at IIHR. Among the parental lines evaluated, P3 was found earlier for the characters like days to 50% flowering and days to first fruit maturity; P1 showed highest mean plant height; P5 showed highest mean for plant spread and dry fruit yield per plant. P6 was the best among the lines for fruit length, and P4 for fruit width and P8 showed highest mean number of fruits per plant. Significant negative heterosis was noticed in the cross P3 x P16 for 50% flowering and P2 x P12 for days to first fruit maturity. Out of 55 hybrids developed, 19 expressed resistance to PVBV, PVY & ChiVMV; and 18 hybrids expressed resistance to CMV individually. However, two hybrid combinations viz., PMR69 x Perennial and PMR69 x Punjab Gucchedhar showed multiple resistance to all four viruses with an yield potential of 86.8 and 84.0 g dry yield/plant.