Importance of Yield Contributing Characters for Improved Yield Potential in Chilli

Chilli is one of the most important commercial crops in India. It is grown almost throughout the country. Chilli yield is a complex quantitative character controlled by several genes, and its improvement depends on the functioning and interaction of several components that vary for different genotypes. A study was conducted to investigate associations among traits and their direct and indirect influences on yield using path analysis and correlation procedures in Chilli genotypes to understand how inter-character relationships influence fruit yield. Correlation and path coefficient analyses were carried out for characters of yield and its components. Differences were observed among genotypes. The characters like plant spread, a number of fruits per plant, average dry fruit weight, fruit length and a number of seeds per fruit showed positive and significant correlation with dry fruit yield per plant. The results of path analysis revealed a fairly high positive direct effect of a number of fruits per plant on dry fruit yield per plant followed by plant spread, fruit length and dry fruit weight as major yield components which could be considered indices for improvement. Thus in the present study correlation and path analysis collectively revealed the importance of average dry fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, plant spread, number of seeds per fruit and fruit length in determining selection criteria for improvement of dry fruit yield per plant.