Introduction

In Mexico, the cultivation of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is the second most important vegetable (^{Acosta and Chávez, 2003}). The greater variability of cultivated and wild forms of chili is widely distributed in our national territory. C. annuum, is the species that groups the vast majority of types and varieties grown in Mexico, including: serrano, jalapeño, morron, ancho, mirasol, pasilla and mulato (^{Pozo, 1981}; ^{Laborde and Pozo, 1982}). Mulato wide chili is demanded mainly in dry or dehydrated state, since it allows its conservation for long periods, as well as facilitating its storage and transport (^{Ramiro, 2008}). Because it is a basic ingredient of traditional dishes, it has great gastronomic, economic and social importance (^{Rodríguez et al., 2007}).

At the national level, 1 878 ha of mulatto broad chili were harvested with a production of 3 869 tons and an average yield of 2.1 t ha^-1 (^{SIAP-SIACON, 2014}). Obtaining low yields in the producing areas, mainly in the North-Central Mexico Plateau (Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi and Guanajuato) is due to several factors, among which the high use of unimproved seed or creole, which is estimated to be sown in 80% of the area dedicated to this crop (^{Ramiro, 2008}).

Starting from the problematic and with the purpose of contributing in the competitiveness of this vegetable, the objective of the present study was to develop a hybrid of simple cross of mulato wide chili with good botanical, horticultural and production characteristics for the North-Central Plateau region from Mexico.

Hybrid registration HAM14F

It is owned by the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP) and is registered in the National Catalog of Plant Varieties (CNVV) of the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS) with the definitive registration number CHI-029 -100415 and Breeder’s Title num. 1441.

Origin and development of the hybrid

The hybrid mulatto wide chili “HAM14F” was developed in the San Luis-INIFAP Experimental Field by the simple cross between the AM-VR variety used as a female parent, and the AM-97-45-21 line, as a male parent; both parents are property of INIFAP. The genealogy is AM-VR()7 and AM-97-45-21()7 of the variety and line, respectively, and the obtaining of the two progenitors as pure lines was by successive self-fertilization; for the formation and selection of the hybrid, the use of diallelic crosses of seven progenitors (six lines and one variety) was used, using Griffing’s design 2 (^{Martínez, 1983}), until obtaining the hybrid of simple cross HAM14F (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Process for obtaining the hybrid HAM14F. 

Variety description

It was carried out through the use of qualitative and quantitative descriptors for chili (^{IPGRI-AVRDC-CATIE, 1995}, SAGARPA-SNICS, 2014).

Botanical and horticultural characteristics

The HAM14F hybrid reaches a height of 80 to 95 cm and has good foliage coverage, 60 to 75 cm in diameter. The position of the plant is semi-erect with habit of dichotomous growth, the main stems have an average length of 20.25 cm and internodes of 7.8 cm. It has dark green leaves, large and wide with a value of 9.49 and 4.42 cm, respectively. HAM14F is considered to be an early cycle since flowering and maturation of the fruit occur at 40 and 135 days after transplantation (ddt), respectively; while the variety AM-VR is intermediate cycle with 48 and 140 ddt. The HAM14F hybrid produces dark green fruits that turn a dark brown color with a strong brightness in the mature state (Figure 2), while the AM-VR variety has a dark brown color and medium brightness. The hybrid has a length and diameter of fruit of 14.90 and 7.38 cm, respectively, and the pericarp of greater thickness (4.53 mm) in comparison with the variety AM-VR (3.3 mm) (Table 1). This last character is an indicator of dry matter, which with greater thickness produces a better quality at the time of drying (^{Berríos et al., 2007}).

Figura 2 Mulatto wide chili hybrid HAM14F. a) plant with fruits in mature state; b) dehydrated fruits. 

Performance evaluation under open sky conditions

In the period 2012-2014 in different locations of the state of San Luis Potosí, the HAM14F hybrid and the control variety were established under open sky conditions to evaluate the yield of dry or dehydrated fruit. The management of the evaluation plots was according to the production systems of each locality. This hybrid obtained an average yield of 3.8 t ha^-1, which was higher by 21.1% compared to the variety AM-VR (3 t ha^-1). The best expression of the hybrid was obtained in the town of Soledad of Graciano Sanchez, with a yield of 7.4 t ha^-1, superior production in 1.3 t ha^-1 of dry or dehydrated product compared to the variety AM-VR which obtained a yield of 6.1 t ha^-1 (Table 2), both results were obtained in plots evaluated under the same conditions. The high yields obtained in the town of Soledad of Graciano Sánchez are attributed, in addition to the potential of the hybrid, to the technological components used during the development of the crop (fertigation, plastic mulching, integrated pest and disease management) unlike the rest of the localities where the plots were traditionally managed. For this reason, the HAM14F hybrid represents a good alternative to be cultivated in the North-Central Mexico Plateau region.

Conclusions

The hybrid HAM14F is a good alternative to be cultivated in the North-Central High Plateau of Mexico, because it has desirable botanical, horticultural and production characteristics.