Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources

A total of 53 accessions of Capsicum spp. collected from Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu was characterized for 38 characters. The frequency was very high for four characters viz. absence of anthocyanin spots over fruits, neck at base of fruit and fruit blossom end appendage, and lanceolate-shaped cotyledonous leaf. Predominance of single descriptor state was found in more than 50 per cent accession for 25 characters. Wide variability was exhibited in all the quantitative characters studied except for the trait fruit bearing period. Importance of studied characters in utilization is narrated.