Estimation of heterosis for yield and quality components in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Ten genotypes including five lines (Kashi Anmol, Pant C-1, Japani Longi, Kashi Sinduri and Pusa Jwala) and five testers (R-Line, VR-339, AKC-89/38, DC-16 and Punjab Lal) of chilli were crossed to derive 25 F1 hybrids. The 35 genotypes (10 parents and 25 F1 hybrids) were evaluated for yield and quality (capsaicin and oleoresin) traits. Highly significant correlation was observed between fruit yield per plant and average fruit weight (g). The direct and indirect effect on yield revealed that the maximum direct effect was exhibited by average fruit weight followed by number of fruits per plant via yield per plant. The crosses Pusa Jwala × VR-339, Pusa Jwala × DC-16 and Pant C-1 × VR-339 exhibited higher level of heterobeltiosis for most of the traits. The higher specific combing ability (SCA) for yield was obtained in crosses Kashi Sinduri × Punjab Lal followed by Pant C-1 × VR-339 and Pusa Jwala × VR-339. Among the hybrids, Pusa Jwala × VR-339 had higher yield as well as capsaicin content, moreover, Kashi Sinduri × AKC-89/38 exhibited highest oleoresin content. These best hybrids (Pusa Jwala × VR-339, Kashi Sinduri × Punjab Lal and Pant C-1 × VR-339) might be utilized for further chilli improvement programme.Key words: Chilli, heterosis, correlation, combining ability, capsaicin, oleoresin

Abiotic Stress Management in Vegetable Crops

Vegetables are highly sensitive in nature thus affected by various biotic and abiotic stress. Any adverse effect of non-living elements on living things in a particular habitat is known as abiotic stress. The production and productivity of vegetable crops got highly effected by the extreme event of climate change i.e, heat stress, water stress, drought, heavy rainfall, salinity etc. Vegetables are full of various nutrients which help in lowering the risk of various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes etc. Most of the vegetables contain more than 90% of water thus highly sensitive to climate change. Sudden change in climatic factors like in temperature affects all stages of plant growth, pollination, flowering and fruiting which directly reduces the yields and quality of major vegetables. Vegetable crops like beans or tomatoes may lose some of their blossoms at such high temperatures, especially in dry or windy conditions, which will lead to a poor fruit set. High temperatures may harm sweet corn pollination and result in inadequately filled ears of corn. Few fruits are produced because cucurbits (the family that includes pumpkins and squash) typically develop mostly male flowers when temperatures are high

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Not AvailableTwenty five diverse bitter gourd genotypes were collected from different part of India and grown in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications at Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi (U.P.) during the summer seasons of 2009-2010. There were significant differences among the genotypes for the traits examined. A wide range of variation was observed for all characters which represents the variation was high and genotypes were rich in diversity. The wide variation in these yield related traits will be useful for selecting best genotypes with high yield. The long sized fruits with wide diameter generally consisted more number of seeds as compare to normal and small fruited genotypes because it consisted more space for seed development within the flesh. Cluster analysis of 25 genotypes based on 10 quantitative traits was indicated that all the genotypes were resolved into two major clusters. The genotypes from these distant clusters may be used in crop improvement programmes to produce populations with wide variability with transgressive segregants possessing high yielding and nutrition rich fruits.Not Availabl