Evaluation of yield and other agronomic traits in pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) under greenhouse conditions in the humid tropics

Abstract

Yield measured as total number of fruits and total fruit weight per plant and 12 other agronomic traits were evaluated for 10 pureline accessions of pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) in two trials, each arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, under greenhouse conditions. The main objectives were to determine the strength of associations among the traits and their stability over trials. Significant differences (P < 0.05 to 0.001) were observed among accessions for all traits studied except days to 50% flowering, number of fruits and fruit weight per plant in the second 5 pickings, total fruit weight per plant and plant canopy width in Trial-1, the wet season. Total number of fruits per plant and total fruit weight per plant were auto-correlated and were both generally positively associated with number of fruits and fruit weight per plant in the first and second 5 pickings and negatively associated with days to 50% flowering and fruiting. Comparison of linear regression lines (COLR, CARDI 1974) showed that pepper accession performances over trials could be described by a single line or parallel lines for days to 50% fruiting, number of fruits and fruit weight per plant in the first five pickings, total number of fruits per plant, plant height, fruit length, fruit width, average fruit weight and fruit wall thickness, suggesting no accession x trial interactions of the crossover type. Two accessions (UAE-257 and FGY-335) showed consistent yields over trials. The implications of the results are discussed.