Abstract:
Chilli cv. PC-1 is popular in Batticaloa district due to its high pungency and resistant to pests and
diseases. However, farmers faced problems in marketing due to variation in fruit quality with
respect to colour, shape, size, etc. This is due to the unavailability of genetically pure population
of chilli cv. PC-1.An investigation was conducted to study the variability and to select promising
plants from two populations of chilli cv. PC-1 with Dark green Long fruit and Light yellow Round
fruit types. Plants were selected randomly from these populations and were evaluated for
quantitative characters such as canopy height, number of primary branches, leaf length, leaf
width, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and yield. The collected
data were statistically analyzed to determine the level of significance.
The correlation studies of the quantitative characters were found. They were canopy height at
100% flowering and canopy height at last harvest; canopy height at 100% flowering and yield per
plant; canopy height at last harvest and fruit weight; canopy height at last harvest and fruit
length; number of primary branches at 100% flowering and number of primary branches at last
harvest; leaf length and leaf width; leaf length and number of fruits per plant; leaf length and yield
per plant; leaf width and fruit width; fruit length and fruit weight; fruit width and fruit weight;
number of fruits per plant and yield per plant.
It was observed that selected plants of PC-1 cultivar showed a wider variation in several traits.
Hence, selection would be positively approached for the characters and use in chilli improvement
programmer through selection. Genetic improvement in present cultivar and maintenance of genetic
purity is a need to encourage production and market potential of chilli cv. PC-1
