Introduction

• Scientific name: Capsicum annum var. acuminatum Linn
• Family: Solanaceae
• Origin: Tropical America-Brazil
• Among the 20 wild species reported and 5 are cultivated

1. C. anunum (Sweet pepper and Chilli): Blue anthers, milky white corolla inconspicuous calyx lobing and solitary peduncle (Sweet pepper and Chilli)
2. C. baccatum: Distinguished from C. annum by the presence of yellow, tan or brown spots on corolla and prominent calyx teeth. Cultivation restricts to S. America.

• Cultivated forms are assigned to C. baccatum var. pendulum and the wild types as var. bacca
• Annual herb, erect, much branced, 0.5-1.5 m high, strong tap root
• Anthesis occurs at early morning (around 5-6 am)
• The pollen dehiscence starts mid to late morning (9.00-11.00 am)
• Stigma become receptive at the time of opening of flowers
• Considering the time of anthesis of flowers and anther dehiscence, emasculation and pollination can be done simultaneously
• At 20-22°C and 50-55% relative humidity pollen viability remains for 8-10 day.