Heterosis and heterobeltiosis in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossum) for growth and yield parameters

The magnitude of heterosis over commercial check and better parent was estimated to identify best crosses for growth and yield traits in bell pepper. Experimental material included 21 F1 hybrids developed by crossing seven diverse parents in half diallel mating design. The findings revealed that Arka Mohini X CW308 showed best heterotic cross combinations, recorded significantly higher heterosis and high per se value over commercial check with respect to number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, fruit length, fruit width, number of lobes per fruit, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight. The cross Arka Mohini X CW308 also showed high heterobeltiosis for traits like fruit length, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and average yield per plant. Hence, this hybrid with high per se value and heterosis can be utilized to obtain desirable segregates for development of superior genotype for improvement of horticultural traits in bell pepper.