The objective of this study was to characterize genotypes of a base population of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). We used 54 plants of a F2 generation of ornamental peppers based on the following morphological characteristics: plant height (PH), canopy width (DDC), first bifurcation height (APB), stem width (DCL), stem length (CFL), leaf length, leaf width (LFL), corolla length (CDC), anther length (CANT), style length (CES) and petal width (LAP). The experimental design was in a completely randomized with three replications. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with subsequent grouping by Scott-Knott criteria (p d" 0.01). Except for CANT, there were significant differences for all the other descriptors by F test (p d" 0.01). LTB is the descriptor with the highest heritability (99.49%), followed by DDC (96.14%) and ABS (94.05%). The trait DCL showed the greatest variability among the plants, forming 13 groups, followed by DDC with 8 and APB with 6 groups. Using multivariate analysis it was possible to separate the 54 plants in eight groups. The group 1 was the largest one with 35 genotypes. The stem width (68.97%), canopy width (9.22%), first bifurcation height (6.76%) and plant height (4.58%) had the highest contribution to the variability. The flower traits had the lowest contribution to the variability (10.47%). The results showed that there was variability among genotypes, and then it is possible to perform selection within this family to continue the breeding program of ornamental pepper.
breeding; ornamental plants; genebank; chili pepper
