Evaluation of Improved Hot Pepper Varieties in North Gondar under Irrigation Condition for Wilt Disease

A field experiment was conducted at Gondar agricultural research center, Megech and Gondar Zuria irrigation site, to investigate the performance of different varieties of hot pepper for growth, dry pod yield and quality. The experiment was conducted from December 2015 to June 2016 under irrigated condition using four released (Melka Eshete, Melka Waze Melka Zala and Mareko Fana) and two introduced (Indam 10 and Indam 42) varieties. The experiment was conducted on a randomized complete block design with three replication. The combine ANOVA showed that significant difference on days of 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, days to pod development, fruit length and plant height. As a result the earliest variety to attain days to 50% flowering was Indam 10 and Indam 42; the variety to attain shortest days to maturity were as Indam 10 and Indam 42, while the highest pod length was recorded at Melka Eshet. On the other hand the highest plant height was recorded at Melka Awaze and Mareko Fana varieties; the highest marketable yield (Qt/ha) of hot peppers was recorded for Mareko Fana , Indam 10 and Indam 42 respectively, while Melka Zala was relatively tolerant to the disease. Since this study was done two seasons at one location; it would be advisable to use Mareko Fana, Indam 10 and Indam 42 varieties to north Gondar areas or on this given area to gain higher yield. Keywords Hot pepper; Variety; Irrigation; Marketable yield