A study was carried out to evaluate: (a) direct and indirect effects (path analysis) of eight plant and fruit traits on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) yield; and (b) canonical correlations among the main production factors group (fruit weight and fruit number) and the following groups: (i) early yield (fruit weight and fruit number); (ii) fruit length, fruit width and fruit loculi number; and (iii) fruit length and fruit width. It was studied six parental genotypes, and the F1 hybrids among excluding the reciprocals. The results showed that yield evaluations might be done at the beginning of the harvest due to the remarkable effects of early yields on total fruit weigth, and the canonical correlations significance between early yield and total fruit weigth. Total fruit number was the variable which showed greater positive effect on total fruit weigth. Reduced fruit width and large number of fruit loculi are correlated with increased total fruit weigth.
path analysis; canonical correlations; sweet pepper; Capsicum annuum L.
