Morphological Characterization of Some Capia Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Genotypes

Capsicum annuum (Capia), a member of the Solanaceae family, has a rich genetic diversity in fruit and plant traits. To select Capia pepper genotypes with desirable morphological traits for the development of new hybrid capia pepper varieties, this study aimed to characterize genetic accessions generated from local populations, and standard and hybrid cultivars using morphological characters. One hundred and twelve genotypes were identified using 15 morphological traits (11 qualitative and 4 quantitative) and quantitative traits were measured while qualitative traits were observed. Cluster and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to determine the relationship between the lines identified as a result of single plant selection. As a result of the cluster analysis, a dendrogram was prepared to evaluate the morphological similarity between the lines, and nineteen groups were identified based on 15 variables. In Principal Component Analysis, six PC axes explained 66.2% of the total variation. As a result of the study, high morphological variability was observed among pepper lines. This evaluation of plant trait variability can assist geneticists and breeders in identifying populations with desirable characteristics for inclusion in pepper breeding programs.