Integrative assessment of yield performance, fruit quality, and marker-assisted selection for bacterial wilt resistance in bell pepper across multiple years

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.) is a valuable horticultural crop often constrained by bacterial wilt and fluctuating environmental conditions. This study evaluated 26 genotypes over three consecutive years (2022 – 2024) under wilt-sick field conditions at Palampur, India, to assess genetic variability, trait associations, and resistance to bacterial wilt. Significant genotypic variation was observed for all 12 horticultural and three biochemical traits. Moderate to high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), along with high heritability (h2bs) and genetic advance (GA) for fruit length, marketable fruits per plant, and marketable fruit yield per plant, indicated their effectiveness as selection criteria. Correlation and path coefficient analyses revealed marketable fruits per plant and average fruit weight as major contributors to fruit yield. Resistance to bacterial wilt, evaluated through field-based phenotyping, DAS-ELISA-based serological detection, and marker-assisted selection using the SSR marker CAMS451, effectively differentiated resistant and susceptible genotypes. Genotypes HPC-22-V-39, HPC-22-V-39D, HPC-22-V-39B, HPC-22-3-SP, and HPC-22-V-29 demonstrated superior yield potential and wilt resistance, with HPC-22-V-39, HPC-22-V-39D, and HPC-22-V-39B also exhibiting early maturity. In this regard, HPC-22-3-SP and HPC-22-V-39D were released as varieties under the names Him Palam Shimla Mirch-1 (IC-653105) and Him Palam Shimla Mirch-2 (IC-653106), respectively, highlighting the novelty and applied significance of this research.