The present study were conducted at Privet Farm in Al-Rahmania Island, Behaira Governorate, Egypt, during two successive summer seasons of 2016 and 2017, to identify the interrelationships among fruit yield and its related characters using correlation and improved model of path analysis at both genotypic and phenotypic levels on chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).
The experimental genotypes were grown in randomized complete blocks design (RCBD), with three replicates on open field. Eight tested genotypes namely, i. e. Shata Balady Hot cv, Shata Balady Hot line-1, Shata Balady Sweet cv, Serrano cv, Shata Balady Sweet line-3, Shata Balady Sweet line-4, Anheium cv, and Cayenne Large cv were used in this study. The characteristics were studied i.e., plant height (PH); branches number plant-1 (BN); fruit length (FL); fruit diameter (FD); locales number fruit-1 (LN); average fruit weight fruit-1 (AFW); fruits number plant-1 (FN) and yield plant-1 (Y).
The results revealed that, there are a significant differences among genotypes for all studied characters. Also, significant and positive correlation coefficients were obtained between fruit yield plant-1 and number of fruits plant-1, at the genotypic and phenotypic levels (0.743* and 0.742*), respectively. Moreover, significant and negative correlation coefficients were obtained between yield plant-1 and fruit diameter (- 0.889** and - 0.882**) at the genotypic and phenotypic levels, respectively.
Path analysis (genotypic and phenotypic) coefficient showed that the traits, i.e. branches number plant-1 and fruits number plant-1 and the average of fruit weight gave the maximum influence directly and indirectly upon yield plant-1 in chilli pepper indicating their magnitude as selection criteria to obtain a valuable gain of selection for yield in chilli pepper.
Conclusively, these results may be helpful to plan appropriate selection strategies for improving fruit yield in hot pepper.