ORIGINAL ARTICLE

An Investigation into Photosynthesis Related Parameters of Chili Varieties for Agronomic Traits

A critical investigation into the performance of all known chili varieties in the same agro-climatic conditions in imminent to identify the elite varieties for beneficial agronomic traits. In this perspective, 20 varieties of chilies were collected and planted in A.N.U botanical garden to know about photosynthetic performance measured in terms of photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll and carotenoid content and chlorophyll stability index in a comparative study. The highest stomatal conductance in LCA-305 (0.166 mmol cm-2) and high transpiration rate in LCA-235 (4.46 mol m^–2s^–1) and G-3 (4.43 mol m^–2s^–1) was observed. Whereas the cultivars, LCA-305 (31.2 µmol CO₂ cm^–2s^–1) and Rabbi (31.20 µmol CO₂ cm^–2s^–1) displayed high photosynthetic rates. The genotypes like G-4 (32°C), G-3 (31.3°C) and G-5 (31.2°C) have recorded high canopy temperature. The highest water use efficiency was noted in Aparna (59.93), LCA-334 (16.68), and G-3 (6.40). The highest chlorophyll a content was noticed in LCA-305 (6.68 mg g^-1) followed by G-4 (6.12mg g^-1), chlorophyll b content in LCA-424 (7.94 mg g^-1), total chlorophyll content in LCA-305 (10.58 mg g^-1) and carotenoid in LCA-353 (4.40 mg g^-1) and G-5 (3.82 mg g^-1) was observed. The highest chlorophyll stability index was observed in LCA-305 (0.85 mg g^-1) followed by LCA-334 (0.77 mg g^-1). Basing on the above data, it can be concluded that in terms of stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, CSI value, chlorophyll A and total chlorophyll contents, LCA-305 displayed superior performance indicating that LCA-305 can be projected as superior variety.