Variability studies and genetic divergence in chilli (Capsicum spp.) Genotypes using multivariate analysis

Forty three genotypes of chilli belonging to three different species viz., Capsicum annuum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutescens were evaluated for genetic variability and divergence at College Orchard of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The analysis of variance revealed that the germplasm lines had substantial genetic diversity. Values of close proximity between PCV and GCV indicated that the traits were mostly under genetic control and less affected by the environment. High heritability and genetic advance were observed for almost all the yield contributing traits. PCA showed that five of the 13 main components showed significant results with 77.89% of the total variance, of which the highest variability (26.50%) was exhibited by PC1. Cluster analysis showed maximum intra cluster distance in cluster 3 (515.90). Genotypes in cluster 3 and cluster 4 were genetically distant (2686.11) and can be exploited for the development of hybrid in future breeding programmes.