Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
The population consisting of 45 genetic stocks of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was subjected to multivariate analysis using D3 statistic. The characters studied were plant height, number of branches, days to flower, days to maturity, fruit length, fruit thickness, number of fruits/plant and yield/plant were studied. The assessment revealed considerable variability among the stocks for all the characters evaluated.
The strains differed significantly for the eight characters considered collectively. Number of branches, fruit thickness, number of fruits/plant and yield/plant contributed maximum towards the total divergence. The 45 strains were grouped into 10 cluster depending on similarities of their D2 values. The clustering pattern of strains usually did follow the geographical distribution. However, some strains, though belonging to different origins, appeared similar. Considerable diversity within and between clusters was noted and it was observed that number of branches, fruit thickness, number of fruits/plant and yield/plant were, the potent factors in differentiating the germplasm of chilli.
