Study of Diallel Cross for Yield and Fruit Characters in Chili Pepper

Abstract

The study of diallel cross for yield and fruit characters in chili pepper is crucial for identifying superior parental combinations and understanding the genetic basis of these traits, ultimately enhancing breeding programs aimed at improving its productivity and quality. In the present study, five parents of chili pepper were crossed in half diallel cross system; i.e., CN-10-37 (P4), CN-16-3-24 (P5), CAP-14-6 (P7), CN-25-2-12 (P8), and JAL-13-1-4 (P11), at a private farm, Al Obour District, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt during summer growing season of 2020 and were evaluated during summer seasons of 2021 and 2022. The results of analysis of variance for 5×5 diallel cross system reflected highly significant mean squares for genotypes, parents and crosses among them. Moreover, Gca and Sca mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits. Sca in fruit weight was insignificant. The best combiners based on Gca and crosses based on Sca for early yield/ plant were CAP-14-6 (P7) and P4× P8, for total yield per plant were CN-10-37 (P4) and P7× P8, for fruit number were CN-16-3-24 (P5) and P5× P7, for fruit weight and fruit diameter were JAL-13-1-4 (P11) and P4× P8, for fruit length were CN-25-2-12 (P8) and P5× P7, for fruit wall thickness were JAL-13-1-4 (P11) and P5× P8, and for plant height were CN-10-37 (P4)and P4×P7. Moreover, maximum heterosis, according to the mid parent, reached 325.11% (P5×P7), 243.23% (P7×P8), 184.04% (P7×P8), 2.07% (P4×P8), 92.23% (P4×P8), 29.69% (P5×P7), 22.52% (P5×P8), and 24.82% (P7×P11) for the aforementioned traits, respectively.