Heterosis-driven breeding in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) across three diverse agro-climatic regions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Chilli has immense global importance because of its export value and medicinal properties. The present study focused on the development and evaluation of high-yielding and resilient cultivars of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) across three distinct locations (E1-University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni; E2-Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station (RHR&TS), DhaulaKuan, Sirmour; E3-RHR&TS, Bajaura, Kullu), each specified by varying altitude and temperature conditions. A total of 21 hybrids and 7 parents were evaluated during 2021–22 and 2022–23 using a randomised complete block design (RCBD) in a half-diallel mating design. In this study, the assessed genotypes showed wide variability and significant variations. Crosses viz., Him Palam Mirch 2 × Punjab Guchhedar and Him Palam Mirch 2 × Him Palam Mirch 1 were found promising based on per se performance. The highest standard heterosis was exhibited by Him Palam Mirch 2 × Punjab Guchhedar and the highest heterobeltiosis was exhibited by Pusa Sadabahar × DKC-8 across all the environments and pooled analysis for fruit yield and other yield-associated characters. For quality characters such as oleoresin (%) and total soluble solids (TSS) (°B), hybrids viz., Pusa Jwala × Pusa Sadabahar and Pusa Jwala × DKC-8 outperformed other hybrids across all the environments. Therefore, these hybrids can be utilised effectively for their hybrid vigour to develop high-yielding chilli hybrids with superior quality traits and multi-location heterosis evaluation permits breeders to identify hybrids with consistent performance.