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An experiment was carried out to determine the genetic variability parameters and character associations in thirty-two chilli genotypes. Based on mean performance, 11 genotypes were observed to be superior for marketable green fruit yield than the standard check varieties 'Him Palam Mirch-2' and DPCH-40-2. High to moderate estimates of PCV and GCV with high heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for marketable green fruits/plant, marketable green fruit yield/plant, total green fruits/plant and average green fruit weight. Marketable green fruit yield/ plant had positive and significant association with average green fruit weight, marketable green fruits/plant, total green fruits/plant, percent marketable green fruits/plant, ascorbic acid and capsaicin content. In view of direct and indirect contribution of component traits, selection on the basis of total fruits/plant and average green fruit weight would be a paying preposition for evolving high yielding genotypes for marketable green fruit yield. The present findings could be useful in selecting superior genotypes to achieve genetic gain and yield advantage in chilli breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis were studied for green fruit yield and its components in 40 diverse genotypes of chilli. The analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied which indicating that presence of great deal of genetic variability for different traits. The high estimates of GCV and PCV were obtained for number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit length (cm), average fruit girth (cm), fruit shape index, average fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per plant (g), chlorophyll content (mg/100g), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) and capsaicin content (mg/g), while it was low for moisture content (%). The characters like days to flowering (days), plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit length (cm), average fruit girth (cm), fruit-shape index, average fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per plant (g), chlorophyll content (mg/100g), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) and capsaicin content (mg/g) exhibited high genetic advance coupled with high heritability, indicating better scope for improvement of these traits by an effective selection programme. The results of correlation studies indicated that genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the traits. Green fruit yield per plant had high, significant and positive association with number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, moisture content and chlorophyll content at both genotypic and phenotypic levels which indicating that these traits were main yield attributing traits. Path analysis revealed that characters like number of secondary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight had high and positive direct effects on green fruit yield. For maximizing the green fruit yield per plant weightage should be given to early flowering, more number of fruits per plant, high average fruit weight, more number of secondary branches per plant and high moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]