ABSTRACT
Capsicum annuum is the most widely cultivated species of peppers (chilies) in the world. For culinary purposes, its fruits are used for pungency (capsaicin) and also color (capsanthin). Capsaicin is also used for medicinal purposes particularly in anti-inflammatory formulations. Genetic divergence among 38 accessions collected from diverse locations in India (28 from Uttar Pradesh, 5 from Assam, 3 from Maharashtra and 2 from Uttaranchal), was estimated from the data pooled over 3 consecutive years for 15 morphological, growth and chemotypic characters that included days to first and second flowering, fruit onset, plant height, primary, secondary and tertiary branches, leaf surface area, fruit length and diameter, fruit surface area, fresh and dry fruit weight, capsaicin and capsanthin content. Based on this characterization the plants could be grouped into 7 clusters wherein substantial diversity among accessions was indicated by the wide range of D2 values (752.901 - 1918683.00). Accessions with distinct identity were marked, which are likely to be quite suitable for breeding through hybridization combining desirable traits. The accessions labeled number 38, 27, 26, 14 and 24 to high capsaicin content (%); 35, 23, 3, 16, 29 and 11 for high capsanthin content (%) and 26 and 27 for dual purpose had characteristics desirable. Above accessions could be utilized in hybridization programme for C. annuum crop improvement.