Correlation and path analyses for oleoresin in chilli (Capsicum spp.).

Studies on the association between oleoresin yield and its components at genotypic level in Capsicum annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens and C. baccatum revealed significant correlation between number of fruits per plant and oleoresin yield. The attributes of earliness had a negative correlation with oleoresin yield indicating that late varieties are rich sources of oleoresin. recorded for three seasons and the mean values worked out (Table 1). Fruits from all harvests were counted, average worked out and expressed as fruits per plant. Fruits from all harvests were weighed and the average expressed in grams as fruit yield per plant. Oleoresin was extracted by solvent extraction method using ethyl acetate and expressed as percentage. Results and discussion The association between oleoresin yield and its components was studied at genotypic level and the results are presented in Table 2. Among the component characters, only fruits per plant had positive genotypic correlation with oleoresin yield (r g =0.26). When the fruit number increases, size is reduced and in small, sized fruits, the percentage of constituents is higher than that of large sized fruits. This is true with many other chemical constituents in vegetable crops. In bitter gourd, constituents like protein, fat, minerals, carbohydrate, calcium and iron are much higher in small sized fruits compared to large sized fruits (Gopalan et al., 1982). The association of attributes of earliness viz., days to flower, fruit set and harvest with oleoresin yield were negative. Days to fruit set had highest negative correlation with oleoresin yield. This indicates that late varieties are rich and better source of oleoresin. The late variety may get more time for the accumulation of chemical constituents by metabolic inter conversion than the early varieties. The correlation of fruit yield per plant with oleoresin yield was not significant, though positive (0.047). The highest yielding genotype, CA 645, had low oleoresin content and thus supporting the present findings. This suggests that increase in fruit yield need not result in an increase in oleoresin content. Inter-correlation among different characters: Days to flower had significant and positive association with days to first fruit set (r g =0.876), days to first harvest (r g =0.733) and fruit yield/ plant (r g =0.4). Days to fruit set had a significant and positive association with days to first harvest (r g =0.99) and negative association with fruits/plant (r g =-0.744). Days to harvest had significant negative association with fruits/plant (r g =-0.625) and fruit yield/plant (r g =0.844).