Assessment of Combining Ability and Heterosis for Anthracnose Utilizing Hybrids Derived From Exotic and Indigenous Collections in Chilli (Capsicum Annuum L.)

Anthracnose, primarily caused by Colletotrichum capsica, is a major constraint in chilli production, necessitating the identification of resistant parental lines and hybrids for sustainable disease management. In this study, 48 experimental hybrids developed from four cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and 12 fertility restorer testers using a line × tester mating design were evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions and disease response was assessed through overall lesion size (OLS) and true lesion size (TLS). Analysis of variance revealed significant variability among crosses, with line × tester interaction being predominant, indicating the role of non-additive gene action in governing response to anthracnose. Among parents, CMS7A and AV31 were identified as desirable general combiners with significant negative GCA effects, while CMSUAA × AV16 and CMS7A × AV48 recorded significant negative SCA effects for TLS. A significant positive correlation was observed between SCA effects and hybrid per se performance. Standard heterosis analysis revealed CMS7A × AV31 followed CMS7A×AV59 by showing the highest level of significant heterosis in desirable direction. These results highlight the potential of CMS7A × AV31 as a promising hybrid and reinforce the role of non-additive genetic effects in breeding anthracnose-resistant hybrid chilli cultivars