Evaluation of Three Hybrids Pepper for Adaptation and Yield Attributes in Western Urban Sierra Leone

A randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with three replications was conducted at the Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Centre (KHCRC) cropping site, Ogoo Farm of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Freetown, Sierra Leone. The research was carried out from April to July, 2016 using a plot size of 6m x 1m (6m) with a 1m furrow between beds and 1.5m between replications. Three hybrids pepper (ChilWASA-Chil-1, Chil-WASA-Chil-2 and Chil-WASA-Chil-3) designated as treatments (T1, T2 and T3) were evaluated. T3 (27.45 cm) and T2 (42.52; 60.10 cm) had the tallest PH at 4, 6 & 8WAT with T1 (20.34 & 34.23 cm) recording the shortest PH at 4 & 6WAT respectively. The largest SG was accounted for by T2 (6.86; 8.72; 9.47 cm) at 4, 6 & 8WAT while T1 & T3 had the same values (4.79 cm) at 4 WAT and T3 & T1 recorded the least at 6 &8 WAT. The widest CS at 4, 6 & 8WAT was observed in T1 (17.11, 32.60 & 56.47 cm) and T3 had the least at 6 & 8WAT (25.63 & 35.76cm ) respectively. Similarly, T1 (54.00, 59.00 & 78.00) recorded the highest NB plant at 4, 6 & 8WAT while T3 (40.00 & 64.00) had the lowest at 4 & 6WAT. For LA and LAI, T1 (9.49 &13.83) and T2 (8.83, 10.09 & 12.47) indicated highest values at 4 & 6WAT; 4, 6 and 8WAT. The lowest values for LA and LAI at 4, 6 & 8WAT were observed in T3 (6.36, 12.00, 13.55; 6.26, 7.06 & 8.98) respectively. For yield and yield components, T2 (66.00, 61.00, 63.87 cm & 51.00) recorded the highest values for NFS, NFH, FL and NMF plant and the least were observed in T1 (53.00 & 49.00) and T3 (54.61cm) correspondingly. Generally, it could be concluded that all three exotic pepper are adaptable to the climatic conditions of Sierra Leone (Western area). Hence further evaluation required across vegetable growing zones. Keywords— adaptation, hybrids, attributes, evaluation, solanaceae.


INTRODUCTION
Chilli pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is a member of Solanaceae family and is one of the most important vegetables in the world. This genus emanated from Central and South America and consists of approximately 30 species (Dagnoko, 2013). The crop plant has duration of 90 to 150 days and is grown widely in rain-fed environments with very high yields when the rainfall is about 600 to 1250 mm (FMRL, 2016). Chilli pepper thrives well in climate with temperatures ranging between 18 to 27°C during the day and between 15 to 18°C during the night. According to FMRL (2016) the fruits vary in shape, color, pungency, texture and are an important vegetable fruit for the fresh market and processed products . It is widely used as food and medicine (FMRL, 2016). In addition to its economic importance, nutritional and medicinal values its fruits is an excellent source of natural colours and antioxidant compounds. It provides a rich source of vitamins A and E. Both hot and sweet peppers contain more vitamin C to prevent flu colds than any other vegetable crop. Moreover, pepper is used as a spice in many dishes, as decoration in food, adds flavor and colour, provides relief for several ailments, reduces muscle pain, inflammation and itching, act as a heart stimulant which regulates blood flow and strengthens the arteries and perhaps with the potential to reduce heart attacks (http://database.prota.org, 2016). In the sub-region, the yield of pepper is relatively low hardily exceeding 6.78 -14 t/ha. However, according to Grubben and El Tahir (2004) Chili pepper has the potential to yield up to 18 t/ha and sweet pepper up to 30 t/ha in open -fields. Harvests exceeding 20 t/ha have been reported in Mali for introduced C. annuum chili varieties (AVRDC/Mali; 2008, unpublished). This average regional yield of pepper is not able to meet the regional market demand for pepper because it is very low. This indicates that there is high need for further improvement of pepper yield in West Africa. Yield is dependent on the genetic background of the plant and the environment therefore focus should be on varieties with high yielding potential and moderate to high tolerance to the prevailing biotic and abiotic environmental conditions in which they are grown. In Sierra Leone, the production of exotic vegetables is increasingly becoming a livelihood strategy as unemployment level reaches 70% (SLARI, 2011). Chill pepper can contribute s ignificantly to the country's economy with production dominated by women which are concentrated in urban and peri-urban areas. Vegetable growers are faced with the problems of accessing and identifying high yielding exotic vegetable seeds including chilli pepper from a reputable seed dealers or companies that are adaptable to Sierra Leone climatic conditions. Therefore, exploring the adaptive and yield potential of exotic Chilli pepper to climatic condition of Sierra Leone is imperative to breeders, growers, and seed producers. The study was hence carried out to evaluate two pepper hybrids for adaption and yield.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Flat beds measuring 6m x 1m (6m 2 ) with a 1m furrow between beds and 1.5m between replications and four treatments during the dry season from May to July, 2016 in the Inland Valley Swamp (IVS) of the Kabala Horticultural Crops Research Centre (KHCRC) Site, Ogoo Farm, of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The research field area of Ogoo Farm lies between latitudes 7° and 10°N and longitudes 10° and 14°W along the West Coast of Africa and is characterized by a monomodal rainfall pattern, with the rainy season extending from May to September with an average annual rainfall of 2000-3000 mm and temperature of 28-31 0 C. The soil is of dark alluvial and the total rainfall and means sunshine recorded during the experiment was 331.0 mm and 26.15 h, respectively while maximum and minimum mean temperatures were however, 27.7 and 25.7EC, respectively. The three treatments of hybrids pepper used in trial are indicated in Table-1 (T1, T2 and T3) was chosen for the experiment. Seeds were nursed on the 10 th April, 2016 on a 2 m x 3 m well prepared sunken nursery bed supplied with 20 Kg of chicken manure. The incidence of pests and diseases were minimal, however, insecticides (Delthametrine) at the rate of 250g/l and fungicides (Carbendazim) at the rate of 500g/l respectively were used to control insects (white flies) and diseases. Prior to transplanting, NPK 15:15:15 (80g) and urea (100g) was mixed in one full watering-can using clean water to do liquid feeding to strengthen vigorous growth of seedlings for field planting. To enhance permanent field conditions for seedlings, shade, quantity and frequency of watering were gradually reduced during the last one week preceding field transplanting.

IV. DISCUSSION Growth performance of exotic Chilli pepper
Generally, peppers tremendously hold high potential in the Africa in relationships to health and nutritional enhancement and poverty reduction. Evaluation and identification of exotic varieties with high adaptive and yield potential is equally important to growers, breeders, and seed producers and marketers in Africa. From the result obtained, it could be stated that all three evaluated exotic pepper are adaptable to agro-ecological environment (Western area) of Sierra Leone. The differences observed among evaluated pepper hybrids with respect to growth parameters including; PH, SG, NB, CS, NL, LA and LAI plant -1 could be ascribed to genetics differences among hybrids pepper. Furthermore, it could be attributed to the availability applied N and that of the inherent soil during the experimentation. The result is in conformity with Kanneh et al, (2017) who reported similar results for the above parameters when two local varieties of pepper were evaluated for growth and yield using different rates of NPK fertilizer. They attributed the significant differences for PH, NL, NB, diameter of stem and LA to genetic differences, rate of fertilizer and likely soil fertility. Moreover, result further corroborates with the findings of Abd El-Aziz (2007). According to Godia (2014) SG is one of the potential storage sites for food material for photosynthesis and could be influenced by nutrients in the soil. Hence, findings are in accordance with Egharevba (2010) and Adebayo et al. (2009) who reported significant differences with respect to SG and stated that the differences was as result fertilizers applied and that in the soil were readily available in the best form for eas y uptake by plant roots increasing the morphological growth of the plants. According to Adebayo et al, (2009), nutrient availability especially N determines plant vegetative development.

Yield and yield components of exotic Chilli pepper
Yield and yield components are very much important in evaluating introduced cultivars. Significant differences observed among the three hybrids of Chilli pepper for NFS, NFH, FL, FD, NMF and NNMF plant -1 might be accredited to effect of K + which is linked with fruit formation, development and quality of fruits and seed. The result from the investigation is generally similar to the findings of Kanneh et al, (2017) and Zaki et al, (1999) who stated that yield differences in crop cultivars maybe attributed to plant stomata ability in the allocation of photosynthetic material to economic yield. In spite of the above, the average NFS, FL and FD were not in conformity to what was recorded by Kanneh et al, (2017) suggesting that the hybrids used in the experimentation do not produce plenty fruits, but have long FL and larger FD than the local pepper varieties evaluated.

V. CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that all three hybrids of pepper evaluated are adaptable to Sierra Leone climatic conditions and have yield potential if favourable conditions exist. However, there is need for further evaluation of material across agro ecological zones of Sierra Leone especially predominantly vegetable growing areas.