Acclimatization Pattern of Cultivated Capsicum spp. in an Agro-Ecologically Diverse Habitat, Kerala, India

Abstract

About 135 chili accessions belonging to Capsicum annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens and representing various horticultural types as well as various agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Kerala ranging from hill to coastal zone were analyzed using 18 qualitative descriptor states. Across AEZs, the distribution of species expressed variation, whereas most of the uneconomic characters did not exhibit any difference. Species-specific desirable features, secondary introduction and adaptability to environmental factors might be the possible factors behind the species-level distribution differences across AEZs. However, the absence of an association between uneconomic characters and fitness might have contributed to the lack of differences of these character states across AEZs. Selection and spread of accessions across AEZs was predominantly based on the size and weight of fruits as well as the adaptability of species. The association of climatological data with the distribution of species, horticultural types and characters worked out to elucidate possible climatic features that influenced the acclimatization. The extent of wild features retained in each species varied, which may depend on ancestor species and the intensity of selection in the domestication process. Geographical diversity analysis revealed the extent of diversity and locations of high diversity.