Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) Genotypes

The field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Complex, JNKVV, and Jabalpur (M.P.) during the year 2015-16 with 18 genotypes of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications to estimate the genetic variability and heritability and genetic advance for thirteen quantitative traits. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The PCV was higher than the GCV for all the traits. High magnitude of PCV and GCV were observed for number of fruit plant-1 followed by average fruit weight, fruit yield plant-1, while it was low for number of branches plant-1. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean were observed for average fruit weight, number of fruit plant-1 suggested that the predominance of additive gene action indicating better scope for improvement of these traits by an effective selection programme.