Production and evaluation of general combining ability of doubled haploid lines in ‎sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)‎‏ ‏

Creating new efficient technologies such as doubled haploids is a fast solution for producing inbred lines. In this study, using the microspore embryogenesis method, doubled haploid (inbred) pepper lines were produced. The Topcross test was performed using 32 doubled-haploid lines produced and the topcross parent of California Wonder to examine the general combining ability of the lines. Hybrids derived from crosses line × tester in 2018- 2019 were planted. In order to evaluate the general combining ability of the lines, days to germination, days to flowering, days to fruit set, fresh fruit weight, dry fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, thickness of fruit diameter, number of seeds, average yield per plant, number of fruits per plant and plant height were measured and analyzed. Comparison of means by Duncan test showed that top-cross progeny of DH55, DH64, DH57, DH53, DH217, DH202, and DH90 doubled haploid lines respectively with average of 8.58, 7.22, 7.18, 5.99, 5.93, 5.80 and 5.69 kg per plant had the highest fruit yield, among them the highest amount was related to the Topcross offset from DH55× California Wonder with an average of 8.58 kg per plant. The heritability of the evaluated traits was over 70%, among them the number of days to germination and the average fruit yield per plant were the highest. The above-mentioned lines also had the highest positive and significant general combining ability for the average yield per plant. Therefore, these 7 lines can be used as superior parent lines in future breeding programs.