CHILLI AND CAPSICUM

Botanical Name: Capsicum annum var.annum

Capsicum annum var.grossum or frutescence
Family : Solanaceae
Chromosome number : 2n=24.
Origin: Central and South America
Common name: Chilli (Hot pepper), Capsicum (Sweet pepper & Bell pepper)
Area and production
At present chilies and capsicums grown all most all states of the country. The major chilli
growing states are Andra pradesh.
Capsicum also known as Bell pepper is restricted to cooler regions of the country and
periphery of cities with cooler weather. As such capsicum growing around cities like
Bangalore, Belgaum and Mysore (Karnataka), Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), Pune, Thane
(Maharashtra), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Himachal Pradesh and Jammu
& Kashmir and hills of Uttar Pradesh.

Economic importance and uses.

Chilli is mainly used in culinary purpose for adding flavour, colour, and pungency.
Dry chilli, powdered or ground into a paste and even green chillies are used for curries,
sambars, rasam and other savory dishes to impart pungency, colour and flavour to food
items. It is widely used in the manufacture of curry powder, curry paste and all kinds of
pickles and preparing sauce, soups, salads etc.

Capsicum is mostly consumed raw in green mature forms unlike in Europe and US where
they are consumed in red ripe form in salads, cooked, mixed and stuffed vegetables.

Varieties of chilli

 PMK 1: Developed at TNAU, Coimbatore. It is a cross between CO2 X

Ramanathapuram gundu. Suitable for rainfed condition, yields about 2.3 t/ha of
dry chilli. Capsaicin content 0.36 mg/g.

 G-4 (Bagyalaxmi): This variety known for its high yielding potentiality. Plants
are tall, dense and fruits are 8.8 cm long. Fruits are bright red and contain 0.52 mg
capsaicin per gm of fruit.
  G-5 (Andra Jyothi): It is a cross between G-2 and Bihar variety (1331) which is
tolerant to thrips. Plants are tall, dense and the fruits are red measuring 5.1 cm
length and 6.3 cm in girth. The capsaicin content is 0.65 mg/g of fruit.
 Pusa Jwala: Released at IARI, New Delhi. This is derived from a cross of NP
46A and puri red. The plants are dwarf and spreading in habit. Fruits are long red
and contain capsaicin of 0.48 mg/g of fruits.
Pant C-1: GBPUAT: It is evolved from a cross between NP46A X Kandhari

 Sindhur: It is selected from CA960. The fruits have deep red thick pericarp. They
measure 8.2 cm in length with capsaicin content of 0.81 mg/g fruit.
 Pusa Sadabahar: This is a multipurpose chilli cultivar. It can be consumed green
and used for preparation of red powder and manufacture of oleoresin. Fruits bear
in cluster of 6 to14 that facilitate bunch harvesting. It is developed through the
cross between Pusa jwala X IC 31339 (C.Frutescense). Fresh fruit yield 75-100
q/ha and dry yield 15-20q/ha.

 Arka Lohit: released by IIHR, Bangalore. It is a selection from IHR 324, plants
are tall, spreading, foliage light green. Tolerant to moisture stress, suitable for
rainfed condition. Fruits are dark green with a capsaicin content of 0.21 per cent
fruits are highly pungent , yield potential is 3.5 t/ha of dry or 20 to 25 t/ha of
green chilli in 180 days.

 Arka Sweta High yielding chilli F1 hybrid developed by using MS line. Plants
medium tall(95cm)&spreading(82.5cm). Fruits long (13.2 cm) with 1.3 cm width.
Fresh yield 38.4t/ ha and dry yield of 6 t/ ha in 140-150 days. Fruits are light
green, turns red.
 Jwala Mukhi: It is developed at KAU, vellayani by using same parents of Jwala
sakhi. Plants dwarf, fruits long (9.6cm) succulent, dark green with light pungency
yield 22.5 t/ha of green chilli in 137 days, tolerant to little leaf and leaf spot.

Bell pepper varieties:

 California Wonder: It is an introduction from USA. Plants vigorous, upright,

prolific, fruits are 3-4 lobbed smooth with medium thick sweet flesh.
 Yolo Wonder: Large fruit, 3-4 lobbed, medium thick flesh mild & sweet.
 Bharat: This is F1 hybrid released by IAHS Bangalore. Plants are vigorous, fruit dark
green, 4 lobed yields 20-25t/ha. It is resistant to TMV.

 Arka Mohini: Determinate plant habit with dark green foliage. Thick fleshed, 3-4
lobed dark green blocky fruits. Average fruit weight 180-200 gms Fruits pendent,
which turn red on ripening. Yield potential of 20 t/ha Duration of 160 days
 Pusa Deepti: IARI, katrain. It is a F1 hybrid, high yielding, resistant to
anthracnose and fruit rot.

Soil
Well drained loamy soils rich in organic matter with pH range 6.5-7.5.

Season of sowing
1. January - February
2. June - July
3. September- October

Seed rate
Varieties: 1.0 kg / ha.
Hybrids: 200 - 250 g / ha.
Nursery area: 100 sq.m / ha.

Seed treatment
Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g / kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/ kg and sow in lines
spaced at 10 cm in raised nursery beds and cover with sand. Watering with rose can has to be done daily. Drench
the nursery with Copper oxychloride @ 2.5 g/l of water at 15 days interval against damping off disease. Apply
Carbofuran 3 G at 10 g/sq.m. at sowing.

Protected nursery

 Prepare the nursery area of 3 cents with slanting slope of 2 % for the seedling production to cover 1 ha.
 Cover the nursery area with 50 % shade net and cover the sides using 40 / 50 mesh insect proof nylon
net.
 Form raised beds of 1 m width and convenient length and place HDPV pipes at 2m interval for further
protection with polythene sheets during rainy months.
 Mix sterilized cocopeat @ 300 kg with 5 kg neem cake along with Azospirillum and phosphobacteria
each @ 1 kg. Approximately 1.2 kg of cocopeat is required for filling one protay. 300 protrays (98
cells) are required for the production of 29,000 seedlings, which are required for one hectare adopting a
spacing of 90 x 60 x 45 cm in a paired row system.
 Sow the treated seed in protrays @ 1 seed per cell.
 Cover the seed with cocopeat and keep the trays one above the other and cover with a polythene sheet
till germination starts.
 After 6 days place the protrays with germinated seedlings individually on the raised beds inside the
shade net.
 Water with rose can everyday upto seed germination. Drench with 19:19:19 @ 0.5% (5g/l) at 18 days
after sowing.

Field preparation
Thoroughly prepare the field with the addition of FYM @ 25 t/ ha and form ridges and furrows at a spacing of
60 cm. Apply 2 kg/ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg / ha of Phosphobacteria by mixing with 20 kg of FYM. Irrigate
the furrows and transplant 40-45 days old seedlings, with the ball of earth on the ridges.
Spacing
Varieties : 60 x 45 cm
Hybrids : 75 x 60 cm

Weed control
Apply Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. / ha or Fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i. / ha as pre-emergece herbicide followed by hand
weeding once 30 days after planting.

Irrigation
Irrigate is done at weekly intervals.

Layout and planting for drip irrigation and fertigation

 Apply FYM @ 25 t / ha as basal before last ploughing.

 Apply 2 kg / ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg/ha Phosphobacteria by mixing with 20 kg of FYM.
 Apply 75 % total recommended dose of superphosphate i.e. 375 kg / ha as basal.
 Install the drip irrigation with main and sub main pipes and place lateral tubes at an interval of 1.5 m.
 Place the drippers in lateral tubes at an interval of 60 cm and 50 cm spacing with 4 LPH and 3.5 LPH
capacities respectively.
 Form raised beds of 120 cm width at an interval of 30 cm and place the laterals at the centre of the each
bed.
 Before planting wet the beds using drip system for 8-12 hrs.
 Planting to be done at a spacing of 90 x 60 x 45 cm in the paired row system, using ropes marked at 60
cm spacing.
 Spray Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. / ha or Fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i / ha as pre-emergence herbicide at 3rd
day after planting.
 Gap filling to be done at 7th day after transplanting.

Manuring
Varieties
Basal dose : FYM 25 t/ha, NPK 30:60:30 kg/ ha.
Potassium as K2SO4 for quality improvement. Application of potassium in the form of potassium
sulphate will increase quality of chilli.
Top dressing : 30 kg N/ha in equal splits on 30, 60 and 90 days after planting.

Hybrids
Basal dose : FYM 30 t / ha, NPK 30:80:80 kg / ha.
Top dressing : 30 kg N / ha in equal splits on 30, 60 and 90 days after planting.

Weed control
Spray Fluchloralin @ 1 lit a.i/ha or Pendimethalin @ 1 kg a.i/ ha. or Oxyflourfen @ 0.15 kg a.i./ha as pre-
emergence herbicide and may be combined with hand weeding once and earthing up 45 days after planting.
Raise intercrop of onion in paired row system to get additional income.

Intercropping
The intercrops like onion and coriander can be grown for getting additional income. It can also help to control
the weed population.

Plant protection
Pests
Fruit borer
Integrated pest management of fruit borer:

 Set up pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera or Spodoptera litura at 12 Nos./ha.

 Collection and destruction of damaged fruits and grown up caterpillars.
  Spray Bacillus thuringiensis at 2 g/lit.
 Provide poison bait with carbaryl 1.25 kg, rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg and water 7.5 lit/ha or
spray any one of the following insecticide\

Thrips
1. Grow Agathi as Intercrop
2. Treat seeds with imidacloprid 70% WS @ 12 g /kg of seed
3. Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 33 kg /ha or phorate 10 % G @ 10 kg/ha or spray any one of the following
insecticide
Aphids
Treat seeds with imidacloprid 70% WS @12 g /kg of seed. Apply phorate 10 % G @ 10 kg/ha or spray any one
of the following insecticide
Yellow Muranai mite
Apply phorate 10 % G @ 10 kg/ha or spray any one of the following insecticide
Root knot nematode
Apply TNAU formulation of VAM (containing 1 spore/g) to control root knot nematode in nursery.
Diseases
Damping off
Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg of seed 24 hours before
sowing. Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens as soil application @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of FYM. Water
stagnation should be avoided and drench with Copper oxychloride at 2.5 g/lit at 4 lit/sq.m
Leaf spot
Leaf spot can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb 2 g/lit or Copper oxychloride 2.5 g/lit.
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew can be spraying Wettable sulphur 3 g/lit or Carbendazim 1 g/lit. Totally 3 sprays are required at
15 days interval from the first appearance of symptom.
Die-back and fruit rot
Spray Mancozeb 2 g/lit or Copper oxychloride 2.5 g/lit. thrice at 15 days interval starting from noticing the die-
back symptoms.
Anthracnose
Use of disease-free seeds
Treat the seeds with T. viride 4 g/kg or P. fluorescens 10 g / kg of seed 24 hours before sowing
Spray Mancozeb 2 g/lit or Copper oxychloride 2.5 g/lit thrice at 15 days interval starting from noticing the die-
back symptoms
Chilli mosaic
Raise 2 rows of maize or sorghum for every 5 rows of chilli crop against wind direction. Recommendations
given for aphids may be adopted for controlling the vector.
Harvest
Harvesting can be done 75 days after transplanting. First two picking yield green chilli and subsequently yield
red ripe fruits.
Yield
Varieties : 2 - 3 t/ha of dry pods or 10 - 15 t/ha of green chillies.
Hybrids : 25 t / ha of green chillies.