Agronomic Evaluation of Experimental Lines of Bell Pepper under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this experiment was to evaluate agronomic performance of pepper lines under greenhouse conditions. Study Design: Was with the completely randomized model with 16 treatments (16 lines of bell pepper) and three repetitions each. The comparison of means was by Duncan ≤.05. Place and Duration of Study: Experimental greenhouse, Plant Breeding Department of the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. between May 2022 to November 2022. Methodology: sixteen lines of bell pepper were evaluated (Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, … Line 16), through the quantification and determination of agronomic variables to determine its agronomic behavior. Results: Significant statistical differences were identified in the variables, in fruit length and diameter, lines 1, 2, 6 and 16 were superior. In total soluble solids, lines 2 and 3 were superior. In mesocarp thickness, lines 1, 3, 9 and 10 stood out. In average fruit weight the best performing lines were line 16, line 2, line 7, line 6, line 13, line 1 with more than 170 g per fruit. In yield (kg planta-1 and yield calculated in t ha-1), it was observed that lines 16, line 6, line 13 and line 14 produced more than 1.7 kilograms per plant, followed by lines 15, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 with 1.2-1.4 kilograms per plant on average. In plant height except for the lines 4, 2 and 1, the rest of the lines are statistically similar. A similar response was observed in number of fruits per plant, except for line 10. The correlation analysis expressed that the yield is determined by the number of fruits per plant (0.879), stem diameter (0.418), fruit diameter (0.268) and fruit length (0.255). Conclusion: The agronomic behavior of the experimental pepper lines evaluated under greenhouse conditions was variable, therefore, the genetic diversity suggests the use of the outstanding attributes of each of the lines for the generation of new varieties or hybrids, or, where appropriate genetic recombination for the generation of new base populations for the derivation of new lines. he lines that stand out in most of the evaluated characters were line 1, line 2, Line 5, line 6, line 7, line 13, line 14 and line 16.