Estimation of gene effects of major capsaicinoids and yield in interspecific cross of chilli (capsicum annuum L. and capsicum frutescens L.)

Generation mean analysis for fruit yield and its components was investigated in two interspecific crosses of chilli namely ‘Mavellikara Local’ x ‘Jwalasakhi’ and ‘Nenmara Local’ x ‘Vellayani Athulya’. The additive (d) component was found to be more important than dominance. Besides this epistasis gene interaction was also present. The dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) effects were in opposite direction, suggesting that duplicate epistasis occurred in most cases. The dominance x dominance (l) interaction was predominant than the other two effects. The presence of significant levels of all types of gene actions like additive, dominance and epistasis for most of the important traits especially yield and capsaicin has indicated that a method designed to utilize all of them such as recurrent selection, multiple cross or diallel selective mating system has to be adopted in the breeding programme.