Heterosis for fruit yield and its components over environments in paprika (Capsicumannuum var longum L.)

Investigations with the four paprika hybrids viz., Arka Abir X Bydagi -kaddi, CO 4 X Bydagikaddi, Simla Paprika X KTPL -18 and KTPL -18 x Simla Paprika and their parents along with the check KTPL -19 was taken up over four different locations to determine the extent of heterosis for fruit yield and related traits and to identify the best heterotic crosses for commercial exploitation. The maximum percentage of heterosis for fresh fruit yield per plant was 69.47% over mid parent (di), 59.80% over better parent (dii) and 42.74% over standard parent (diii).The hybrid CO 4 X Bydagi -kaddi exhibited maximum fruit yield (1.415.55 Kg/plant, 1.40025 Kg/plant and 1.42731 Kg/plant) in L1 (Hosur), L2 (Yercaud) and L4 (Alandurai village) location while Arka Abir x Bydagi kaddi showed maximum fruit yield (1201g/plant) in L3 (Thadiyankudisai) location. Selection of crosses on the basis of per se performance with considerable per cent of heterosis would be more desirable.