Vegetable and Sugarbeet Research Station, Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh
*Agricultural Situation in India, August 1969, Vol. XXIV No. 5, P. 520.
The present investigations were carried out for evaluation of 30 cultivars of peppers (Capsicum spp. L.) during 1970. Characters considered for genetic variability were, days taken to flower, days taken to fruit formation, duration of availability of green fruits/plant, fruit size/plant, number of branches/plant, plant height, number of fruits/plant, rind thickness/fruit, number of seeds/fruit, driage percentage and fruit yield/plant.
Genetic variability prevailing in the population for various characters were estimated through analysis of variance, co-efficient of variability, heritability in broad-sense, genetic advance and genetic gain were also worked out. The degree of genetic variability was highest in rind thickness/fruit (223.333) and fruit size/plant (129.866 per cent), therefore, a considerable progress can be made in these characters by selection.
The highest estimates of heritability was found in number of seeds/fruit, fruit size/plant, number of branches/plant and rind thickness/fruit. Selection can give better results based on these characters. Fruit yield/plant and number of seeds/fruit showed the highest values of genetic advance, thus sufficient progress can be made in these characters by making five per cent selection.
