Assessing Heterosis and Combining Ability in Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Using Male Sterile Lines

Abstract

Evolving novel hybrids in bell peppers that satisfy the current market and consumer demand is extremely challenging, therefore development of capsicum hybrids with excellent qualities is the current necessity. In the present study, 15 F1 combinations were developed by crossing 3 male sterile lines and 5 testers according to line × tester mating design at the Research Farm of Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan and Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station (RHRTS), Dhaulakuan during 2021 and 2022 to assess mean performance, magnitude of heterosis, combining ability, nature and magnitude of gene action for various yield and yield contributing characteristics. On the basis of mean performance and GCA studies, sterile line MS4 and testers namely, California Wonder and UHF-CAP-27 were found best for majority of characters. MS-4 × UHF-CAP-27 and MS-7 × UHF-CAP-27 were two best cross combinations on the basis of mean performance, specific combining ability and heterosis for majority of the characters under study. Hence, these cross combinations need to be tested in farmers field of mid and low Himalayas.