Segregation patterns and transgressive segregation for agronomic characters in red chili (Capsicum annuum L.) Laris Variety of M3 generation after gamma-irradiation

Abstract

The information on genetic parameters need to be known in relation to the selection process for breeding of high yielding plant genotypes. This study aims to estimate the frequency distribution, segregation pattern, and transgressive segregation for agronomic characters in M3 generation of red chili “Laris” variety after gamma-ray irradiation. The research was conducted at the Integrated Field Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung from September 2018 to May 2019. This research used single plant method. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test at the 1% level of significance for normal distribution fit and segregation pattern analysis. Transgressive segregation can be seen through the frequency distribution of M3 generation plants compared to M0. Results of this study indicated that the characters of dichotomous height, flowering age, harvesting age, plant height, branching level, number of fruits per plant, and fruit weight per plant had a normal distribution and associated with quantitative characters. The number of primary branches had a non-normal distribution and termed as a qualitative character. The segregation pattern of the number of primary branches follows a 15:1 ratio which indicates that the controlling gene is regulated by two genes that work in a double dominant epistatic manner. Transgressive segregation which has a positive value was found in the characters of dichotomous height, number of fruits per plant, and fruit weight per plant.