Significant heterosis was recorded from hybrids in a nine-parent diallel of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) for dry fruit wt/plant (27.4%**, significant at the 1% level), fruit length (7.3%**), and percentage mature fruit at harvest (3.0%*, significant at the 5% level). Additive effects (GCA) were more important than nonadditive (SCA) in explaining variability among Fl's for fruit number, dry fruit wt/plant, fruit length and width, and total carotenoids of the fruits.
Performance, predicted in synthetic populations formed from parents selected on the basis of carotenoid concentration, is presented, and breeding procedures applicable to chili pepper improvement are discussed.