Six lines of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) differing in tolerance to low phosphorus (P) content in the soil, their F1 hybrids and reciprocals, obtained from a complete diallel cross, were assessed under greenhouse conditions in order to estimate their combining abilities for total dry matter accumulation (shoot) dry matter, root dry matter, root (shoot) ratio, leaf area, plant height, total P content in the plant and P translocation coefficient. Both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities were statistically significant with quadratic component associed to SCA which was always greater in magnitude than GCA for all traits, showing a predominance of non-additive genic effects in crosses. In addition to high positive GCA estimates, the tolerant lines to low P availability were the most divergent and their hybrids showed high average values for most of the assessed traits, while an opposite behaviour was observed in the tolerant lines. Considering the performance of the lines, the heterosis and the SCA effect, the following are promissing combinations: P-141-190--F16 x P-142-403-F11, P-142-215-F15 x P-142-270-F12, P-141-152-F14 x P-142-215-F15, P-141-152-F14 x P-142-403-F11 and P-141-150-F10 x P-141-152-F14. No difference was found among reciprocal crosses in relation to the assessed traits.
sweet pepper; Capsicum annuum L.; tolerance; phosphorus; phosphorus deficiency; combining ability
