Abstract:
Male-sterility in chili was documented for the first time in the 1950’s. Since then, considerable
knowledge has been accumulated on the nature of the trait, the means of its identification, induction,
inheritance of both genetic and cytoplasmic genetic male-sterility, maintenance of inbreds, and their potential
for breeding hybrid cultivars. Heterosis for various economic traits like; maturity, fruit weight, size, number and
total yield have been utilized. Today, several internationally known seed companies and research institute use
the genetic mechanism [msms] on a large scale for producing hybrids of sweet pepper, whereas the
cytoplasmic genetic sterility [(S) Rf rf] is used mainly for breeding pungent hybrids. The possibilities of
exploitation of male sterility for crop improvement as well as production of F1 hybrids have been reviewed and
discussed in the present paper. Biochemical as well as biotechnological aspects of this phenomenon has also
been vividly reviewed
