ABSTRACT

A study was carried out between July, 2004 and February, 2005 at National Horticultural Research Institute, Mbato, Okigwe, to evaluate seven F2 segregating population of pepper (Capsicum spp) for yield and yield related attributes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments allocations are, Nsukka yellows x PBC 401, PBC 401 x PBC 398, PBC 401 x FNHVID, FNHVID x PBC 401, PBC 398 x FNHVID x PBC 401, PBC 398 x FNHVID, Tattashi x PBC 396, Tattashi x PBC 401. Measurements were made on number of leaves per plant, number of days to flowering, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width at the widest portion per plant, fruit yield per plant and per hectare, number of seeds per fruit and seed weight per plant. The data were subjected to generalized linear model (GLM) of SAS package, Correlation and regression analysis were also performed on the data. Very high significant differences were observed for number of leaves per plant, days to flowering, number of fruits per plant, seeds per fruit and seed weight; while fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width and fruit yield were not significant. Fruit yield was significantly and positively correlated with number of leaves per plant and fruits per plant. On the basis of performance for yield, it should be noted that out of the seven genotypes tested, Nsukka yellow x PBC 401 was the best type followed by PBC 401 x PBC 398 and could be useful for future breeding programmes.