Studies on influence of genotypic diversity on yield, quality and incidence of white fly and yellow mite in Capsicum annuum L.

A field experiment was conducted with fifty one chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes to study the growth, yield, quality characters, white fly and yellow mite incidence during Rabi season of 2007-08 and 2008-09. The data on growth, yield performance, quality characters and pest incidence revealed significant variation among the different genotypes. Significantly the highest number of fruits per plant was recorded in genotype CA-29 (168.23) and it was lowest in genotype CA-2 (52.30) and it was statistically at par with genotypes CA - 15 (56.09) and CA-43 (56.20). Like number of fruits per plant, the significantly highest fresh yield was recorded in CA-29 (14.58 t/ha). Higher fruit yield was also recorded in genotype CA - 47 (13.35 t/ha) and CA-48 (13.18 t/ha). Ascorbic acid content in red ripe fruit varied from 75.89 to 167.21 mg/100 g fresh. The highest capsaicin content in the red ripe fruit was recorded in genotype CA -17 (1.13 %) followed by CA-4 (1.07%) and it was lowest in CA-7 (0.33%). Genotype CA - 45 was almost free from white fly incidence and lower incidence was also recorded in genotype CA-43 (0.40 /plant) followed by CA - 23 (0.50 / plant) and CA - 21 (8.10/ plant) was found most susceptible to white fly incidence. Among the different genotypes, CA - 22, CA - 24, CA - 25, CA - 27 and CA - 30 were free from mite infestation where as CA - 13 (13.60/leaf) was most susceptible to yellow mite incidence.