Gene action of yield and yield contributing characters in chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

Gene action of yield and yield contributing traits in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was studied in three selected crosses, involving four parents, including their F1's, F2's and first back crosses generations. The six generations of these crosses were evaluated during summer, Rabi 2012 for days to first flowering, days to first picking, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (mm), number of seed per fruit, number of fruits per plant (green), green fruit yield per plant (g), number of fruits per plant (dry), dry fruit yield per plant (g), days to last picking and capsaicin content (%). The data generated was subjected to test epistasis and six generation mean analysis. It was found that, all the types of gene action i.e. additive, dominance and interaction components were found to be play a major role in their inheritance. The importance of additive, dominant and epistatic interactions suggested the use of recurrent selection, reciprocal recurrent selection, diallel selective mating scheme or bi-parental mating system for improvement of these traits, while the heterosis breeding is recommended for the crosses where complimentary epistasis was observed. Taking in to account the complex behavior of genes in these traits, modified bulk selection is recommended for varietal improvement of chilli in these crosses, in which the selection is performed after attaining the homozygosity

Genetic variability and selection of candidate plus trees in chebulic myrobalan (Terminalia chebula retz.)

Total forty genotypes of Chebulic myrobalan (Terminalia chebula Retz.) were selected from the nearby area of Dapoli, Burondi,Wakawali, Murud and Anjarla during Januanry to December 2008 for the present study of variability. These genotypes werestudied for six morphological characters of trees and twelve physical parameters of fruits. The analysis of variance revealedsignificant variation among the genotypes for all the characters. This indicated a greater scope for making selection in thesegenotypes. The maximum range of variability was observed for morphological characters viz., diameter at base, diameter atbreast, girth at base and girth at breast. The estimates of genotypic mean sum of squares indicated comparatively wide range ofvariation for the characters moisture per cent, TSS and weight of fresh fruits. The estimates of phenotypic variances were foundhigher than the genotypic variances for most of the characters indicating that these characters were influenced by theenvironmental factors. The heritability was high for total soluble solids followed by weight of dry fruit, weight of fruit pulp, totalsugars and acidity per cent. The genetic advance as per cent of mean was highest for non-reducing sugar followed by weight offruit pulp, weight of dry fruit, weight of seed and acidity per cent. For selection of candidate plus trees, preference was given tothe physical parameters like non reducing sugar per cent, weight of fresh fruit, weight of seed, weight of fruit pulp, moisture percent and weight of dry fruit as these characters were under genotypic control. On the basis of different characters, WR-4, CR-1,VR-2 and BR-12 were selected as CPTs in Chebulic myrobalan. These CPTs performed well for at least two characters. TheseCPTs can be used in further research programme