Phenotypic diversity, correlation and importance of variables for fruit quality and yield traits in Brazilian peppers (Capsicum baccatum)

• Autor(a) principal: Rêgo, Elizanilda Ramalho do
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Rêgo, Mailson Monteiro do, Cruz, Cosme Damião, Finger, Fernando Luiz
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9628-7; http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/21466
• topic: Capsicum baccatum; Characterization; Chilli; Conservation; Germplasm bank; Pepper breeding

The hot peppers belonging to the species C. baccatum are completely restricted to Latin America and comprise the most popular hot pepper consumed as fresh or as processed paprika in Andean countries. The objective of this study was to characterize the phenotypic diversity among 40 landrace accessions of C. baccatum based on morphological fruit quality traits and yield components, and to determine the correlation between these characters and their contribution for the genetic variability. The accessions were analyzed for 14 fruit and plant descriptors. Plants were arranged as randomized complete block with three replicates. Collected data were initially subjected to analysis of variance and if the F-test was significant at P ≤ 0.01, the averages were grouped by Scott-Knott criteria. The heritability in a broad sense and phenotypic correlation were calculated. The phenotypic divergence and relative importance were estimated by multivariate analysis. Significant differences for all traits were observed by F-test (P ≤ 0.01). The range of heritability values were between 83.2 and 99.1. The landraces were grouped in seven different clusters. Major fruit width, fruit weight and fruit dry matter were the only fruit traits with positive correlation with yield. Plant width, height, first bifurcation height and fruit set were positive correlated between them and with yield. Based on the data, the most divergent accessions were 4 and 24, which could result in higher heterotic effect in eventual hybridizations between them. The results of this study showed that spice and vegetable type specific varieties can be developed from C. baccatum.