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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 12, No. 6
Publication Date: December 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/aivp.126.17951.
Akter, L., Hossain, M. M., Quamruzzaman, A. K. M., Habibur Rahman, M., Abdur Rahim, M., & Khatun, R. (2024). Genetic
Divergence of Sweet Pepper in Bangladesh. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(6). 277-286.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Genetic Divergence of Sweet Pepper in Bangladesh
Limu Akter
Olericulture Division, Horticuture Research Centre,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute,
Joydebpur, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Md. Mokter Hossain
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh- 2202, Bangladesh
A K M Quamruzzaman
Olericulture Division, Horticuture Research Center,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur,
Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Md. Habibur Rahman
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh- 2202, Bangladesh
Md. Abdur Rahim
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh- 2202, Bangladesh
Rahima Khatun
Division, Horticuture Research Centre,
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute,
Joydebpur, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT
The study of genetic divergence in sweet pepper is essential for enhancing crop
yield, quality, and adaptability, especially in regions like Bangladesh where
agriculture plays a critical role in the economy. The present investigation was
carried out at the research farm of the Olericulture division, Horticulture
Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
to estimate genetic divergence in 21 sweet pepper genotypes based on fourteen
characters using Mahalanobis’s D2 statistics during winter 2017-18 in randomized
complete block design with three replications. The results revealed significant
genetic variability, indicating the presence of diverse genetic resources within the
cultivated 21 sweet pepper genotypes. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions
into distinct clusters, reflecting their genetic relationships and divergence. The
study highlights specific genotypes with desirable traits that can be utilized in
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 12, Issue 6, December-2024
breeding programs to develop superior sweet pepper varieties. Cluster II had the
maximum number (14) of genotypes and clusters I and III were composed of only
two genotypes. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster II
(1.286), containing fourteen genotypes and the lowest intra-cluster distance
(0.056) was observed in cluster III having two genotypes. A higher inter-cluster
distance was observed between clusters III and IV (14.090) and clusters I and IV
(14.040) indicating the genotypes in these clusters were more diverged than those
of other clusters. Cluster II exhibited maximum highest mean for fruit length at the
green stage, fruit length at the mature stage and desirable minimum value for days
to 50% flowering while the second highest mean values for days to last harvest,
number of fruit/plant, weight of fruit/plant, average fruit weight, total number of
fruit/plot, plot yield, fruit yield, while cluster IV exhibited the highest mean values
for the number of fruit/plant, weight of fruit/plant, total number of fruit/plot, plot
yield, fruit yield and one desirable lowest mean for days to last harvest. Therefore,
more emphasis should be given to clusters II and IV for selecting genotypes as
parents for crossing which may produce new recombinants with desired traits.
Keywords: Sweet pepper, Genetic divergence, Multivariate, Cluster analysis, D2
statistics
INTRODUCTION
Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) belongs to the family Solanaceae native to tropical South
America. Brazil is thought to be the Centre of origin of sweet pepper. It was widely cultivated
in Central and South America in early times and unknown in Europe before the discovery of
America. The species Capsicum annuum includes eleven groups which can be divided into
sweet and hot peppers. Sweet pepper holds significant nutritional and economic importance.
In Bangladesh, sweet pepper is gaining popularity among farmers and consumers. However,
the cultivation and productivity of sweet pepper in Bangladesh are often constrained by
various biotic and abiotic factors, necessitating the exploration of genetic diversity within the
species to enhance crop resilience and yield. The sweet pepper is relatively non-pungent with
thick flesh. As food, sweet pepper has little energy value. But the nutritive value of sweet
pepper is high as it contains 1.29 mg protein, 11 mg calcium, 870 I.U. vitamin A, 175 mg
ascorbic acid, 0.06 mg thiamine, 0.03 mg riboflavin and 0.55 mg niacin per 100 g edible fruit
(Joshi, 1995). One medium green bell pepper can provide up to 8 per cent of the
recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A, 180 per cent of Vitamin C, 2 per cent of calcium
and 2 per cent of iron. Sweet pepper contributes substantially to our diet, it is a good source of
vitamins A, C (more than that obtained from tomato), E, B1, B2, and D.
Genetic divergence refers to the process through which populations of a species evolve and
accumulate differences in their genetic composition over time. Understanding the genetic
divergence of sweet pepper in Bangladesh is crucial for developing improved varieties that
are better suited to local growing conditions, resistant to diseases, and capable of meeting
market demands. By assessing the genetic variability among different sweet pepper
accessions, researchers can identify potential parent lines for breeding programs, thus
contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security in the region. It is particularly useful
for characterizing individual accessions and cultivars and as a general guide in the selection of
parents for hybridization (Furini and Wunder, 2004). Better knowledge of genetic diversity or
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Akter, L., Hossain, M. M., Quamruzzaman, A. K. M., Habibur Rahman, M., Abdur Rahim, M., & Khatun, R. (2024). Genetic Divergence of Sweet
Pepper in Bangladesh. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(6). 277-286.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.126.17951
genetic similarity could help to sustain long-term selection gain (Chowdhury et al., 2002).
Improvement in yield and quality is normally achieved by selecting genotypes with desirable
character combinations existing in nature or by hybridization. The selection of parents
identified based on divergence analysis would be more promising for a hybridization
program. Some related results have been reported in sweet pepper (Tambe et al., 1993;
Chaudhary and Pathania, 1998; Singh and Gapalakrishnan, 1999; Kumar et al., 2000).
The value of D2 statistics (Maurya, 2010) has been demonstrated in choosing parental stocks
for cross-breeding (Milkova, 1996; Bhatt, 1981; Kaul and Sharma, 2008; Devi and Arumugam,
2009). However, D2 statistics group a set of potential parents based on genetic divergence
with the assumption that the best parents may be those revealing the maximum genetic
diversity (Bhatt, 1981). Similarly, Sharma (1998) after statistical and biometrical studies in
plant breeding indicated that genetically divergent parents used in hybridization under a
transgressive breeding programme are dependent upon the categorization of breeding
material based on appropriate criteria, to have a heterotic response and desirable segregates.
Geleta and Labuschagne (2004) highlighted the significance of diversity among the parent
population. According to Sharma and Jana (2002), the assessment of genetic variation in a
species is a prerequisite for initiating an efficient breeding program, as it provides a basis for
tailoring desirable genotypes. Genetically diverse parents are likely to segregate and or to
produce high heterotic crosses. The more diverse the parents, the greater the chances of
obtaining high heterotic F1s and a broad spectrum of variability in segregating generations
(Arunachalam, 1981). Genetic diversity study also permits to select the genetically divergent
parents to obtain the desirable recombinant in the segregating generations of sweet pepper.
Assessment of genetic diversity is important for selecting breeding strategies.
Generally, this type of study aims to characterize sweet pepper genotypes collected from
different regions of Bangladesh and exotic sources to assess the genetic diversity within the
germplasm. So, this study aims to investigate the genetic divergence of sweet pepper varieties
cultivated in Bangladesh, employing advanced molecular markers and statistical tools. The
findings will provide insights into the genetic relationships among different sweet pepper
genotypes, aiding in the selection of superior varieties for breeding and cultivation. Through
this research, we hope to contribute to the improvement of sweet pepper production in
Bangladesh, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental Site
The experiment site was the farm of the Olericulture Division, Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Institute (BARI) during 2017-18. The field was at 23.992o N Latitude and 90.413o E
Longitudes having an elevation of 8.2 m from sea level under the agro-ecological zone (AEZ)
28 (Annon, 1995). The farm was situated in the sub-tropical climatic zone and characterized
by scanty rainfall during the experimental time. The soil of the experimental field was sandy
clay loam in texture having a pH range of around pH 6.20 and moisture 13%-25%. The
Maximum air temperature (oC), minimum air temperature (oC), total rainfall (mm), sunshine
(hrs.), maximum RH (%) and minimum RH (%) are mentioned in Fig 1.