Chillies are an important crop scientifically classified under the plant kingdom, angiosperms, order Solanales, family Solanaceae, genus Capsicum. The document discusses several Capsicum species including C. annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens and their importance, cultivation, breeding objectives and varieties in India. It provides details on the floral biology, breeding methods, objectives and strategies used in chilli breeding programs. It concludes with an overview of major chilli varieties cultivated across different states in India.

1. CHILLIES
Submitted by MOHAMMED ANFAS K T
anfasnellikuth@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohd-anfas-5409431a0

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3. Scientific Classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Class : Angiosperm
Order : Solanales
Family : Solanaceae
Genus : Capsicum
Species : annum
Scientific name : Capsicum annum L. var. annum
var. paprika
Chromosome no : 2n=24 & 2n=26
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4. Importance
An important part of daily diet.
Key Element in many regional cuisines, pickles, soups, sauce,
Salads, curries etc. due to
its unique flavor, aroma and colour.
Increase the taste and palatability.
Fresh green capsicum contains more vitamin C than citrus fruits
and fresh red chilli has
more vitamin A than carrot (Than et al. 2008).
Chillies are low in sodium and cholesterol free.
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5. Importance
Medicinal Properties are found
Stimulate blood circulation
improves the digestion process
rich source of antioxidants
source of natural bactericidal agents
Apart from medicinal uses, chilli also used in cosmetic,
liquor industries and as a weapon for self -defense (chilli
spray).
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6. Cultivars
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7. Capsicum annum
Capsicum annuum, bell, sweet, or chilli pepper—with cultivated
varieties including bell, sweet, chilli, and paprika peppers—is a
perennial herbaceous plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade family),
which originated in Central and South America and the Caribbean and
was domesticated over 5,000 years ago. Peppers from C. annuum
have been developed into numerous varieties that are now cultivated
around the world for sweet and hot varieties of green and red bell
peppers and chilli peppers, that are one of the world’s most widely
used Spices, with dried forms including paprika, chili powder, and
cayenne.
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8. Capsicum chinense
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Capsicum chinense is a species of chilli pepper native to
the America. C. chinense varieties are well known for their
exceptional heat and unique flavors. Some taxonomists
consider them to be part of the species C. annuum, and
they are a member of the C. annuum complex. C. annuum
and C. chinense can generally be identified by the number
of flowers or fruit per node, however one for C. annuum
and two to five for C. chinense, though this method is not
always correct. The two species can also hybridize and
generate inter-specific hybrids. It is believed that C.
fruitescens is the ancestor to the C. chinense species

9. Capsicum frutescens
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Capsicum frutescens is a species of chilli pepper that is sometimes
considered to be part of the species C. annuum. Pepper cultivars of C.
frutescens can be annual or short-lived perennial plants. Flowers are
white with a greenish white or greenish yellow corolla, and are either
insect- or self-pollinated. The plants' berries typically grow erect;
ellipsoid-conical to lanceoloid shaped. Fruit typically grows a pale
yellow and matures to a bright red, but can also be other colours. C.
frutescens has a smaller variety of shapes compared to other
Capsicum species, likely because of the lack of human selection. More
recently, however, C. frutescens has been bred to produce ornamental
strains, Because of its large quantities of erect peppers growing in
colorful ripening patterns.

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Floral Biology

11. FLOWER
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12. Floral Biology
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13. Floral Biology
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 Flower is actinomorphic, complete and bisexual
 Calyx has five sepals which are gamosepalous
showing valvate aestivation
 corolla has five petals which are polypetalous
showing valvate aestivation
 androecium has five free stamens but epipetalous
 gynoecium is bi carpellary, syncarpous, bilocular
with superior ovary having axile placentation.

14. Floral Biology
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15. Breeding objectives
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16. Breeding objectives in Capsicum spp.
Major
1. Higher yield
2. More pungency (capsaicin) and oleoresin in hot chilli
3. Zero pungency (capsaicin) and more antioxidant in sweet
Pepper
4. Resistance to anthracnose, virus complex, fruit rot and
bacterial wilt etc.
5. More dry powder from green fruit
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17. Breeding objectives in Capsicum
spp.
Minor
1. More number of fruits per plant
2. Higher fruit weight and larger size
3. Uniform fruit shape, size and color in sweet pepper
4. Earliness
5. Wider adaptability
6. Improved nutritional quality
7. Longer shelf lifeMajor
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18. Main goals of chilli peppers breeding
programs
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19. Breeding objectives for major quality traits in
various market types of chilli
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Breeding behaviour of
capsicum species

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23. Breeding
methods
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24. Breeding strategy/methods
Conventional methods
1) Introduction
2) Pure line selection
3) Pedigree method
4) Backcross method
5) Heterosis breeding
6) Distance hybridization
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Non-conventional methods
1) Marker assisted breeding
2) Tissue culture
3) Mutation breeding

25. Main classical techniques used in
Capsicum breeding programs
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26. Mass Selection
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This is the simplest breeding technique to improve populations for
multiple traits without concerns about pedigree. It must be used in an
environment where the traits of interest are easily expressed. The
efficiency of this technique is enhanced by rouging off type plants prior
to flower opening.
Initially, it was used to improve landraces or open-pollinated cultivars of
peppers. In this approach, characters with high heritabilities are easily
fixed and a reasonable level of variability is also maintained. It is still
used in Mexico to select seed for Poblano, guajillo and other traditional
pepper landraces.

27. Pure line Selection
This method is applicable to landraces/local cultivars being
grown by farmers. In this method, initial seed stock is space
planted and superior plants are selected and harvested
separately.
Next year, individual plant progenies are grown and progeny
showing superior performance and devoid of genetic variability,
is bulk harvested and evaluated further with check cultivar(s) in
replicated trials. Several chilli varieties in India have been
developed by this method. These varieties are: G 1, G 2, G 3, G 4,
NP 46A, K 1, Co 1, Musalwadi, Sindhur, Patna Red, Pant CI.
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28. Pedigree Method
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This method involves selection of superior plants in
the segregating generations following hybridization
between superior cultivars along with maintenance of
pedigree record. Selection of superior parental
cultivars is crucial step in this method. Such chilli
cultivars are Andhra Jyoti, Pusa Jwala, Pusa
Sadabahar, X 235, K2, Punjab Lal and Jawahar 218.

29. Single Seed Descent
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In this method, single pod seed is harvested from each plant in a
segregating generation without much selection. In peppers, it is often
carried out in greenhouse or winter nursery, to advance more
generations in a year. This technique offers scope of selection for seed
viability, seedling vigour, virus resistance or other single gene
resistances amenable to controlled inoculation.
In pepper, SSD has been employed to fix recessive pot virus genes into
the inbred lines prior to evaluating them in field for other economically
important traits. This technique is widely employed how to generate
large number of inbred lines to be used in test crosses for development
of hybrids.

30. Backcross Method
This is normally used to transfer single gene/few genes from primitive
cultivars/wild forms on leading cultivars. In some cases even BC2 families may be
routed through pedigree method of breeding (modified backcross) instead of
following a routine backcrossing programme which needs 5-6 backcrosses with the
recurrent parent.
After selection of gene of interest in F2 population, backcrossing begins. If the key
gene is dominant, direct backcrossing may be done with selection at each
generation.
If the gene is recessive, selfing should be done followed by selection, prior to each
backcross, 6-8 generations are normally required. The typical examples are
dominant L genes for TMV, recessive pvr, TEV resistance genes and various BLS
resistance genes. Cultivars include Yolo Wonder R, Tabasco Green Leaf and
Mississippi Nemaheart.
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31. Heterosis Breeding
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F1 hybrids of bell pepper are popular in the USA and
Europe and are gaining popularity in India after the
initiation of research and seed production work in
vegetables by a large number of private sector seed
companies. The first hybrid variety in this crop in India
was Bharat developed by Indo-American Hybrid Seeds,
Bangalore (1973) followed by marketing of large
number of hybrid cultivars by several other seed
companies.

32. Mutation Breeding
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Mutation breeding has been found to be effective and efficient
breeding tool in pepper, Daskalov (1986) has written an
exhaustive review on this subject.
(i) For CMV resistance
(ii) For resistance to Phytophthora capsici Leonian (fruit rot)
(iii) For resistance to Verticillium dahliae, Kleb
(iv) For male sterility

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Future Strategies

34. Future Strategies
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Genesis of varieties with less pungency and consumer preference.
Exploitation of male sterility and chemical hybridizing agents in
developing new hybrids.
Introduction of heat and drought tolerance germplasm as a strategy for
climate change.
Development of location specific varieties.
To develop a varieties which can maintain as such capsaicin content
even after a longer storage period?
Developments of varieties with higher antioxidant and oleoresin
content.
Breeding for ornamental plant type.

35. Varieties of Chilli
in India
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36. Varieties of Chilli in India
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Bhut Jolokia: Bhut Jolokia is also known as 'ghost pepper' and in 2007
the Guinness book rated it as the world's hotest chilly.Bhut Jolokia is an
interspecific (Capsicum Chinese and Capsicum franutescens) hybrid
chilli pepper.
Guntur Chilli: Guntur is the largest manufacturer and exporter in Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh, the Middle East, South Korea, the United Kingdom,
USA and Latin America with the most varieties of Chilli and Chilli
powders in India. Guntur Sannamis also grown in Madhya Pradesh, one
of the styles of Guntur chilly. All of the spicy dishes which are famous
across the globe of this particular region actually belongs to the Guntur
district of Andhra Pradesh.

37. Varieties of Chilli in India
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Kashmiri chillies: This chilli is the most desired after red chilli in India
because of its colour, as its name implies. An Indian cooking without
Kashmiri mirch powder is incomplete, which brings the colour to every
household cook's mouth-watering dishes. In contrast to the other
variants found in India, it is less hot or pungent.
Byadagi chilli: It is a well known chilli species, mostly cultivated in
Karnataka. It was named for the city of Byadagi in Karnataka district of
Haveri. Byadagi chilli is famous for its flavour and pungency.

38. Varieties of Chilli in India
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Dhani: Dhani is widely developed in Mizoram and in some
parts of Manipur, which is known as Bird's Eye Chilli because
of its form. Though it's the smallest, it's really spicy, pungent
and bright red chilli that's popular in the Calcutta markets.
Gundu: It is the round fat chilli that is grown in Tamil Nadu in
the fertile Ramnad regions. Fat and round means Gundu in
Tamil. That's why the name. Chutneys, sambars and tadcas in
the south of India favoured this chilly to add spicy and mouth
watering flavour.

39. Varieties of Chilli in India
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Jwala: The chili is predominantly cultivated in Kheda,
Mehsana and southern Gujarat. It is also called finger hot
pepper (FHP). While it is green at the outset, it becomes red as
it matures. They can also be cultivated at home. This chili has
a rather pungent taste and is conveniently on the shelf during
the year.
Warangal Chappata: Short and deep red colour, less slick and
moderate taste, Chili Tomato or ChapPata Warangal is very
coloured and low heat, which is commonly used in colour
extraction.

40. Varieties of Chilli in India
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Bhavnagri mirchi: Bhavnagri long chilli plants grow 13cm long
and 2cm big hot peppers during good yield. These peppers are
very hot and as they mature, transform from green to red.
There are green stems, green leaves and white flowers in plant.
Indo-5 chilli: This is one of the most renowned red chillies in
India, popularly known as Indem-5, US-5 and Endo-5 Chilli and
is shipped in great amounts around the world. The largest
producers of Indo 5 red chilli in India are Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra. The size is longer, the skin is
heavier and the heat is comparatively poor.

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44. THANK YOU
Submitted by MOHAMMED ANFAS K T
anfasnellikuth@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohd-anfas-5409431a0