Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Mundu Chilli for Growth, Yield and Quality Attributes

Abstract

An investigation encompassing sixteen growth, yield, and quality attributes was carried out within the F3 generation resulting from the Mundu Chilli cross PKM CA 32 and PKM CA 33 encompassing the interrelationships through path and correlation among the traits. Fruit yield exhibited a noteworthy and positive genotypic association with various traits, including ascorbic acid, number of fruits per plant, oleoresin content. These associations highlight the potential importance of these attributes in contributing to improved fruit yield through selective breeding efforts. In the context of genotypic and phenotypic path analyses conducted to assess fruit yield, The most significant and positively correlated factor with dry fruit output per plant was found to be the oleoresin concentration, closely followed by fruit quantity per plant. Furthermore, there was a direct favourable effect of ascorbic acid on fruit output. On the other hand, the fruit yield path analysis showed that plant height indirectly influenced the number of fruits produced by a plant and the number of days until 50% of the plant flowered. Moreover, oleoresin content, matured fruit production, and 1000 seed weight showed an indirect favourable influence of primary branches per plant. More generally, characteristics that show favourable direct phenotypic and genetic influences on fruit production suggest that improving these particular characteristics may lead to an increase in fruit yield. The characteristics that show favourable direct phenotypic and genetic effects suggest that improving these specific characteristics has the potential to increase fruit output overall.