Combining ability of sweet pepper lines by multivariate diallel analysis.

Combining ability of sweet pepper lines by multivariate diallel analysis. The objective of this work was to obtain information on the combining ability of sweet pepper lines by multivariate diallel analysis. Thirteen sweet pepper lines previously selected based on the reaction of sweet pepper yellow mosaic, being eight lines with resistance reaction and five susceptible lines, were used in a 8x5 partial diallel evaluated with the parental lines. The 53 genotypes were evaluated in greenhouse trials in a randomized blocks design with four replications. The traits total fruit yield, early fruit yield, mean fruit mass and plant height were evaluated. From these four traits, a univariate and multivariate diallel analysis was performed. Multivariate diallel analysis results were similar to those from univariate diallel analyses, with a predominance of non-additive effects. Favorable estimates of the GCA occurred for total fruit yield and early fruit yield in PIX-031D-188-14-10 and PIM- 013 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The PIX-031D-171-10-10, PIX-031D-188-14-05 and PIM-004 lines were higher for mean fruit mass and plant height. The SCA estimates varied considerably for the evaluated features. Multivariate diallel analysis is a good option for parental choice, since it considers several characters simultaneously.