Production Of Chilli Seedlings Through Grafting

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) belongs to the family solanaceae having diploid species with 2n=2x=24 chromosomes. Chilli is originated in South America and in the seventeenth century it was introduced in India by Portuguese. Chilli is a herbaceous or semi woody annual plant with fruits vary in shape, size, colour and degree of pungency. Chilli cultivation has various limiting factors such as abiotic i.e. water stress, heavy rains, lodging due to weak root growth, salt concentration, chilling injury, high temperature and biotic i.e. soil born diseases, viruses, sucking pests and nematodes etc. Also, there are challenges regarding production cost and marketing trends in India. These abiotic and biotic factors damages growth as well as production in chilli. To tackle these biotic and abiotic stresses, grafting in chilli can be the potential solution. Seedling production is an important step in the graft production system because it influences the final result of the grafting. Potting media is a major factor that influences seed germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth and quality of seedlings in a nursery.