Some notes on the association between fruit dimensions and fruit weight in Capsicum annuum L.

Summary Previous reports on the inheritance of fruit dimensions in Capsicum suggested two contradictory views: independent inheritance of individual dimensions vs inheritance of a shape index, i.e., length/width ratio.The F₂ of a cross between parent lines that differed in fruit size and weight but had similar shape indices exhibited intermediate dominance in fruit weight and in fruit width for small size. The correlation between fruit shape (as measured by the length to width ratio) and fruit weight in the F₂ was small and not significantly different from zero. The two variables, fruit width and fruit length, accounted for 90% of the variation in fruit weight. Apparently one can select for fruit weight in the F₂ independently of fruit shape.