Selection in Base Population of Ornamental Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize and select plants with ornamental potential and resistant to pathogens in generation F2.

Study Design: For genetic divergence analysis, Tocher's grouping method was used, based on the standardized Euclidean distance. Analyses were carried out for the quantitative and qualitative data separately and also for the data together. In addition, the relative importance of the characteristics evaluated for genetic divergence was calculated using SINGH's Methodology (1981). All analyses were performed using the computational Genes program.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse of the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory of the Center of Agrarian Sciences (CCA) of the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). The treatments consisted of 354 progenies, an F2 generation of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum L), belonging to the Germplasm Bank of UFPB, derived from the controlled self-fertilization of F1 and obtained from the crossing between the parents UFPB390 X UFPB137. Plants grown in vessels of 900 mL filled with commercial substrate. There was variability among genotypes for the evaluated characters.

Methodology: Genotypes were characterized according to the descriptors for Capsicum suggested by IPGRI. 20 quantitative characters and 4 qualitative in ornamental peppers were evaluated. Leaves identified from an optical microscope using the illustrated descriptor of imperfect fungus.

Results: The variability between genotypes was higher for qualitative characters related to disease resistance. It is possible to select individual plants for opening lines in Generation F3. 7 plants; 7; 15; 50; 69; 120; 155; 157; 196; 314; 326; 331; 347 should be selected for not presenting symptoms of fungi diseases.

Conclusion: Greater diversity among genotypes was detected when the incidence of diseases in the plants was evaluated. The plants 7; 15; 50; 69; 120; 155; 157; 196; 314; 326; 331; 347 should be selected because they do not present symptoms of fungal diseases.