Evaluation of Chilli Varieties for Growth, Yield and Thrips Incidence in Central Telangana Zone
L. Suhasini *
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Warangal, India.
M. R. Bhanusree
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Palem, India.
A. Venkatram
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sircilla, India.
M. Harika
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Warangal, India.
S. Malathi
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malyal, India.
M. Jagan Mohan Rao
Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To know the performance of chilli varieties for growth, yield and its attributing characters, incidence of thrips and leaf curl index at Central Telangana Zone of Telangana state.
Study Design: Ten (10) treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three (3) replications.
Place and Duration of Study: Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Warangal, Central Telangana Zone of Telangana state. Experiment was conducted in the Kharif season in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Methodology: Ten chilli varieties namely Surajmukhi, Muchia, LCA-616, Bullet, Bor, Byadgi Kaddi, LCA-625, LCA-960, LCA-620, and Teja were sown in raised bed nursery and transplanted in the main field by following all the recommended package of practices. Observations were made on five randomly selected tagged plants from each variety and replicated for evaluation of characters like plant height, canopy spread, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, chlorophyll content, fruit length, fruit width, ripe fruit colour, fruit shape at pedicel attachment, fruit position, fresh fruit weight, dry fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, dry fruit yield, mean thrips population and upward leaf curl index.
Results: Out of ten chilli varieties, the dry chilli yield was found to be significantly higher in Teja (26.13 q/a) and on par results were noticed in Surajmukhi (25.12 q/a), whereas lowest dry chilli yield was observed in variety Bor (4.47 q/a). Thrips incidence and leaf curl index was found to be significantly lowest in Muchia. The trend indicates that the higher yield depends on the average fruit weight and number of fruits per plant.
Conclusion: Among the ten chilli varieties under study, Teja and Surajmukhi yielded more dry chilli. Whereas the variety Muchia has shown lowest incidence of thrips and leaf curl index. Hence, these varieties have scope for future crop improvement programme.
Keywords: Chilli varieties, yield, leaf curl index, chlorophyll, thrips population