ABSTRACT

Morphological Comparisms were made among four Cultivars of Capsicum annum and six cultivars of Capsium. frutescens and their F1hybrids. Several crosses were made in all possible combination within and between C. Annum and C.rutescens with the aim of evaluating the cultivars for adaptability to the low land rain Threst zone condition of Umudike. Highly significant differences were recorded for most attributes studied. The Total yield was siginficantly correlated with fruit weight (r=O. 99 * * *) and branch number (r 0.66*). Some cultivars were cross - compatible with the F1 ts being superior to the parent as in fruit weight and branch number. Such studies are useftil on the study of combing abilities aimed at relating parents for use in breeding for improvement on Caps/urn.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE TITTLE

Abbreviation used i

Dedication ii

Acknowledgment ill

Certification iv

Abstract v

Table of Contents vi

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Origin and Distribution 3

2.2 Chemical Composition And Uses 4

2.3 Climatic and Cultural Requirements 5

2.4 Soil PH And Soil TYPE 6

2.5 Nursery Practice 7

2.6 IrrigationS 7

2.7 Nutrient Requirements 8

2.8 Harvest And Yield 8

2.9 Yield Attributes 9

2.10 Hybridization in the Family Solanaceae 11

2.11 Insect Pest and Diseases of Pepper 17

3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 20

3.1 Nursery Practice 21

3.2 Crossing of Pepper Parental Lines 22

3.3 Cultural Practices 23

3.3.1 Transplanting 23

3.4 Data Collection 23

3.5 Statistical Analysis 24

4 RESULTS 30

4.1.1 General Observations 30

4.2 Hybridization 34

4.3 Field Experiment II

Evaluation of Parents & Hybrids 34

5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 47

APPENDIX 50

REFERENCES 57