Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005.
*Present address: Regional Fruit Research Station, Anantharajupet-516 105, Cuddapah District. A.P.
The nature and magnitude of gene action was studied in a set of diallel crosses of ten diverse cultivars in F1 and F2 generations for fruit number per plant in chillies. The data was subjected to graphic, component and combining ability analyses. The graphic analysis suggested the presence of non-allelic interactions. The variances due to GCA and SCA were highly significant thereby indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene action. Among the parents studied, 960, Jwala and 1068 were the best general combiners for fruit number per plant. Some form of recurrent selection or full sib selection is recommended for improvement in the number of fruits/plant.
