Evaluation of Elite hot pepper varieties (Capsicum species) for growth, dry pod yield and quality under Jimma condition, South West Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at two locations under Jimma condition, to investigate the performance of different varieties of hot pepper for growth, dry pod yield and quality, thereby, to recommend best adapting and high yielding variety (varieties) for the farmers in the study area. The study was conducted from October, 2009, to March, 2010, at JUCAVM experimental field and Seka chokorsa woreda(Kechema nursery site) under irrigated condition using nine hot pepper varieties ( Mareko Fana,Bako Local, Melka Zala, Weldele, Melka Shote, Oda Haro, Dube Medium, Dube Short) and one local (Gojeb Local) as a control. The experiment consisted of two factors (locations and varieties) and was laid out in a split plot arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The result of the study showed significant interactions between locations and varieties on days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, mean number of flowers per plant, canopy diameter, mean number of branches (primary, secondary and territory), shoot and root dry weight (g); number of fruit per plant, number of seeds per fruit, mean seed weight per fruit, marketable, unmarketable and total yield(t/ha), fruit dry weight(g), pericarp thickness, fruit length and fruit diameter. As a result, the earliest variety to attain days to 50% flowering was Gojeb Local at Kechema site followed by Mareko Fana at both locations, The variety to attain shortest days to first harvest was recorded from variety Gojeb Local, while the highest number of fruits per plant was from Weldele at Kechema site. On the other hand the highest primary, secondary and tertiary branches were recorded from variety Welwdele at Kechema site.Similarly the thickest fruit size was attained from Mareko Fana at Kechema site, where as,the widest fruit diameter was recorded from Mareko Fana Bako Local, Dube Medium and Dube Short at Kechema site respectively. The highest marketable yield(t/ha) of hot peppers was recorded from Varieties Weldele, Mareko Fana, Dube Medium and Dube Short at JUCAVM and Kechema respectively, while the highest total yield (t/ha) was recorded from Weldele and Mareko Fana at both locations. The high yielding capacities were attributed to their early flowering and maturity, days to first harvest, high marketable and total yield, the dry weight content of the varieties as well as their reaction to disease. Since, the present study was done only for one season at two locations; it would be advisable to repeat the experiment at different locations using different entries of hot pepper in order to arrive at a sound conclusion.