Collection and characterization of some conserved landraces of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

A study was undertaken on exploration, collection and characterization of some endangered landraces of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). These landraces are collected from the hilly area of Kalahandi district of Odisha which are the good genetic resources for future exploration. 6 endangered landraces are identified, collected and characterized with different parameters (as per IPGRI, 1995) like conserver details, conservation needs, passport data of the cultivar, qualitative characters, quantitative characters etc. Cluster analysis was made using Ward's Minimum Variance Cluster Analysis using the SAS system for understanding the similarity and diversity among the studied genotypes with Root-Mean-Square Distance between Observations. From the analysis of the qualitative traits, it was found that clear division of the 6 landraces into three distinct clusters. In cluster 1, three genotypes CV1, CV2 and CV4 fall, in cluster 2, CV5 and CV6 and in cluster 3 comes CV3 indicating that genotype and CV3 is distinctly different from other 5 genotypes. And when studied the quantitative parameters, 6 landraces were clearly divided into three distinct clusters. In cluster 1, three genotypes CV2, CV3 and CV4 fall, in cluster 2, CV1 and CV6 and in cluster 3 comes CV5 indicating that genotype CV5 is distinctly different from other 5 genotypes. Landraces shown substantial differences in clustering pattern using both qualitative and quantitative characters giving opportunity to breeders intended to work with either of the characters.