Breeding for machine harvesting chilli varieties
2000
A. M. Mahir | I. B. Ahmad | C. H. Che-Haron
Improvement of morphoagronomical traits of red chilli for machine harvest was carried out at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Intensive evaluation of chilli accessions through morphoagronomical characterization and single-plant selection for parental lines led to the observation of random occurrence of certain desirable traits. The traits include compact, determinate plant habit (concentrated fruit set and ripening), thick erect main stem, easy fruit detachment, upright fruit and early maturity which would significantly contribute to the ( designing of machine harvesting chilli variety. Ideal ratios for both plant architecture (3 main stem: 6 plant height: 4 canopy diameter) and biomass (7 fruit weight: 1 leaf weight: 2 skeleton weight) were formulated that could maintain plant strength and carry the fruits without breakage of branches, respectively. New superior chilli lines have been identified from o successive generations after the hybridization between the selected parental lines. Among these lines, one line was chosen as the potential candidate since it had almost reached both the ideal ratios and determinate plant habit, and was named as Cilibangi-l. The other Cilibangi varieties that had their own unique desirable traits were also selected. Two more traits, i.e., easy fruit detachment and upright fruiting are presently being incorporated into Cilibangi varieties. To complement these varieties, a prototype chilli harvester ('stripper') was fabricated with the cooperation of the Engineering Faculty, UKM.
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