Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Anchal Sharma, Shivam Sharma, Payal Sharma, Anuradha and Priyanshi Koul

Abstract:
Bell pepper’s hybrid seed production is done by hand emasculation and pollination. Hence, it needs a lot of skilled labour as a result seed production has become costly and the availability of quality seeds to the farmers at a reasonable price is the need of hour. Keeping in mind, this investigation has been planned to evaluate the most appropriate post-emasculation pollination time to enhance hybrid seed yield with better quality and reduced costs. In field RCBD design was used with two varieties viz. Solan Bharpur and California Wonder and CRD in the laboratory with factorial analysis. The reciprocal cross was attempted between Solan Bharpur and California Wonder during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 by pollinating them at different times viz. pollination immediately after morning emasculation (P₁), pollination immediately after evening emasculation (P₂), pollination 12 hours after evening emasculation (P₃), pollination 18 hours after evening emasculation (P₄) and pollination 24 hours after evening emasculation (P₅). In addition, the effect of different times of pollination, two crosses, and their interaction was studied on various growth, seed quality and quantity parameters. ANOVA exhibited significant differences among the treatment combinations for all the characters studied. C₂P₅ (California Wonder x Solan Bharpur i.e., pollinated after 24 hours of evening emasculation) was found significantly superior when compared with other treatments for growth, seed yield, and seed quality characters. Individually treated P₅ (pollination 24 hours after evening emasculation) was found significantly better having maximum standards for growth, seed yield, and quality parameters. In the case of crosses, C₂ (California Wonder x Solan Bharpur) was found significantly superior for getting higher yields of quality bell pepper seeds.