Abstract:
A research was conducted from June 2008 to May 2009 with the main objectives to
identify suitable hot pepper lines to be used in breeding for superior fruit yield and
yield associated components based on their combining abilities, determine heterosis
in the Fi generation, estimate heritability of various traits and correlation between
yield and its associated characters. Eight (8) hot pepper lines were analysed in a line x
tester fashion comprising six (6) lines and two (2) testers. Analysis of variance of the
mean performances of the Fis and their parents revealed significant differences
among the genotypes implying the presence of variability. Parents and crosses showed
significant differences in both general and specific combining abilities respectively
indicating the incidence of both additive and non-additive gene effects. ‘BEK' was
identified as the best combiner for fruit number/plant and earliness. The Fis
expressed both positive and negative significant heterosis over better- and mid-parent
values for all traits measured. Heritability was high for seed number, fruit length,
number of primary branches, fruit weight, days to fruit set, days to first flower
opening, fruit number per plant and plant height at flowering. It was low in fruit yield
per plant Fruit number per plant was highly correlated with fruit yield per plant
