Breeding of chillies

1. Family Solanaceae
Genus Capsicum
Species annum
Chromosome
no.
2n=24 &2n=26
Chillies

2. Importance
Chilli (C. Annuum) is both a vegetable crop & a spice crop.
Cultivated for green or dry fruit.
Chilli, the universal spice named as “wonder spice”
It is rich source of vitamins like Thiamine, Riboflavin and
VitaminC.
Fresh green capsicum contain more vitamin C than citrus
fruits and fresh red chilli has more vitamin A than carrot.
Green chillies are rich in Rutin, which has pharmaceutical
use.
Its fruit is called as peprika.
Industrially used for cosmetics and oleoresin production.
Has medicinal properties - stimulate blood circulation,
improves the digestion, process rich source of antioxidants
Source of natural bactericidal agents

3. Pungency in chillies is due to alkaloid capsaicin (8-
methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) and several other related
phytochemicals collectively called as “Capsaicinoids”.
The red pigment(colour) in chillies is due to capsanthin.

4. Mexico is the center
of diversity for C.
annuum
Chilli was spread to
the rest of the world by
Christopher Columbus
who discovered
America in 1943
Introduce Spain 1493
by Columbus – spread
Mediterranean region
to England in 1548 -
central Europe in the
16th century
Brazil to India in 1885
by Portuguese
Origin and Evolution
Chilli was brought to India by vasco-da-gama

6. Capsicum consists of 20–27 species, five of which are
domesticated: C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C.
frutescens, and C. pubescens.

7. Among the 5 cultivated species of the genus
Capsicum, C. annuum is the most widely cultivated in
India for its pungent (chilli syn. hot pepper) and non-
pungent (sweet pepper syn. capsicum, bell pepper)
fruits.
The cultivation of C. frutescens, C. chinense, and C.
baccatum is limited and usually restricted to
homestead gardening in different regions.
In India, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu account for more
than 75% of the area and total production of chilli.

8. Chilli
 Known as hot pepper.
 Perennial in nature.
 White colored flower.
 Fruits born in clusters
and thin peel.
 Growth determinate.
 More pungent.
 Vit. - C content high.
 Self pollinated.
 Used as spices.
Capsicum
 Known as sweet or bell
pepper.
 Annual in nature.
 White, purple & radish colored
flower.
 Fruits born singly and thick
peel.
 Growth indeterminate.
 Less pungent.
 Vit.- C content low.
 Cross pollinated.
 Used as vegetable
Difference between Chilli and Capsicum

13. GENETIC RESOURCES:-
C.annum – commonly known as sweet pepper and chilly hot pepper.
C.annum L.var avicular – commonly known as bird pepper, proginator of
bell pepper.
C.annum L. var. grossum Sendt. – commonly known as bell pepper
C.baccatum syn. C.angulosum and C.baccatum var baccatum –
commonly found in southren American region.
C.chinese Jacq – "bonnet pepper"
C.frutenscens - commonly known as tabasco pepper and bird chilly.
C.fastigiatum – commonly known as bird eye chilli.
C.pubescecns – commonly used for breeding in India
The NBPGR currently has ~3000 Capsicum accessions under ex situ
conservation, but online passport and characterization data are not
available.

16. Classification of chilli type based on fruit characters
1.C. annuum var acuminatum (Nepal pepper): Fruits
long thin, pendulous and pungent
2.C. annum var longum: Long chilli the fruit are long
and stout with a very broad base
3.C. annuum var grossum: Big chilli sweet pepper,
bell pepper, fruits large and bell shaped turn, bright
red on ripening, little pungent, used as vegetable
4.C. annuum var ceraciferma: very small chilli fruits,
and round, slightly pungent.
5.C. fruitiscens var minima: Bird pepper with white
and long pedicel, fruits small and highly pungent
e.g., Golconda Mirapa, Seema mirapa

18. The Bhut jolokia, also known
as ghost pepper, ghost chili, U-morok, red
naga, naga jolokia, and ghost jolokia, is
an interspecific hybrid chili
pepper cultivated in the Northeast
Indian states of Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
It is a hybrid of Capsicum
chinense and Capsicum frutescens and is
closely related to the Naga
Morich of Bangladesh.
In 2007, Guinness World Records certified
that the ghost pepper was the world's
hottest chili pepper.

20. Breeding objectives
 Higher yield
Earliness
Desirable fruit shape and size
Superior fruit quality
•pleasing flavour
•high sugar/ acid,
•high pigment ,
•Vit C in bell pepper
•Color retention

21. More pungency (capsaicin) and
oleoresin in hot chilli
Zero pungency (capsaicin) and more
antioxidant in sweet pepper
Resistance to diseases(fruit rot ,
CERCOSPORA, PM, Bacterial leaf spot,
Phytophthora root knot nematode, TMV)
Resistance/tolerance to insects( thrips,
mite, aphid, fruit borer)
Resistance to abiotic stresses

22.  Higher fruit weight and larger size
 More number of fruits per plant
 Uniform fruit shape, size and color in sweet
pepper
 Wider adaptability
 Longer shelf life

23. Breeding Methods
Pureline selection: G1,G2,G3, G4,NP 46A,K1, Co1, Musalwadi, Sindhur,
Patna Red, Pant C1.
Pedigree: Andhra Jyothi, Pusa Jwala, Pusa sadabahar, X 235, K2,
Punjab lal and Jawahar 218
Bell pepper-Spartan Garnet, Spartan Emarald, Sonette
Backcross: Yolo wonder R, Tabasco green leaf and Mississipi
Nemaheart.
Heterosis breeding: bell pepper- Bharat developed by Indo-American
Hybrid seeds.
The greater success of hybrid cultivars is due to
•Sufficiently large flowers, easy emasculation and abundant Pollen
•Large no. of crossed seeds
•Heterosis for yield
•Easy deployment of dominant genes
•High remunerative price of hybrid seed
•High yield potential of hybrids under better management

24. Varieties
Jwala
It is a high yielding variety released from the Kerala
Agricultural University.
Jwalasakhi
Released from the Kerala Agricultural University. Fruits are
light green in colour and it is a less pungent variety.
Suitable for cultivation in southern districts of Kerala.
Average yield is 20 t/ha.

25. Jwalamukhi
Released from the Kerala Agricultural University, green fruits and
less pungent. Suitable for cultivation in southern districts of Kerala.
Average yield 22.5 t/ha.
Manjari
Bacterial wilt resistant variety from the Kerala Agricultural
University, fruits are highly pungent, light green and borne in
bunches. Average fruit length is 4 cm and suitable for high density
planting.
Ujwala
High yielding bacterial wilt resistant variety suitable for Kerala
condition, released from the KAU. Dark green fruits that turn dark
brown on ripening, 6 cm in length and borne in bunches. Suitable
for making green chilli and for drying purpose. High pungent variety,
suitable for extraction of oleoresins and colouring pigments.
Resistant to mosaic and leaf roller attack.

26. Anugraha
High yielding, early maturing, bacterial wilt resistant chilli
variety released from the KAU suitable for cultivation in
Kerala condition. Plants are of medium stature with
attractive long green medium pungent fruits, which turn
deep red on ripening. Average fruit weight is 3.6 g. Average
yield is 27 t/ha.
Kovilpatti 1 &2, Bhagyalakshmi, Pusa Jwala, Pant-C1&C-2, K-
2, Arka Lohit, Pusa Sadabahar, Punjab Lal, Hissar Sakthi,
Andhra Jyothi, Arka Basanth, Arka Gaurav, Arka Mohini and
Green gold are other important varieties of chilli suitable
for growing in Kerala condition.

31. Identified resistant/tolerant source against major pests of chilli in India

32.  The World Vegetable Center, previously known as the Asian Vegetable
Research and Development Center (AVRDC).
It was founded in 1971 in Shanhua, Taiwan.