A field experiment was conducted at two locations under Jimma condition, to investigate the
performance of different varieties of hot pepper for growth, dry pod yield and quality,
thereby, to recommend best adapting and high yielding variety (varieties) for the farmers in
the study area. The study was conducted from October, 2009, to March, 2010, at JUCAVM
experimental field and Seka Chokorsa woreda (Kechema nursery site) under irrigated
condition using nine hot pepper varieties (Mareko Fana,Bako Local, Melka Zala, Weldele,
Melka Shote, Oda Haro, Dube Medium, Dube Short) and one local (Gojeb Local) as a
control. The experiment consisted of two factors (location and variety) and was laid out in a
split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The
result of the study showed significant interactions between location and varieties on days to
50% flowering, days to first harvest, mean number of flowers per plant, canopy diameter,
mean number of branches (primary, secondary and territory), shoot and root dry weight (g);
number of fruit per plant, number of seed per fruit, mean seed weight per fruit, marketable,
unmarketable and total yield(t/ha), fruit dry weight(g), pericarp thickness, fruit length and
fruit diameter. As a result, the earliest variety to attain days to 50% flowering was Gojeb
Local at Kechema site followed by Mareko Fana at both locations, The variety to attain
shortest days to first harvest was recorded from variety Gojeb Local, while the highest
number of fruits per plant was from Weldele at Kechema site. On the other hand the highest
primary, secondary and tertiary branches were recorded from variety Welwdele at Kechema
site.Similarly the thickest fruit size was attained from Mareko Fana at Kechema site, where
as,the widest fruit diameter was recorded from Mareko Fana Bako Local, Dube Medium and
Dube Short at Kechema site respectively. The highest marketable yield(t/ha) of hot peppers
was recorded from Varieties Weldele, Mareko Fana, Dube Medium and Dube Short at
JUCAVM and Kechema, respectively, while the highest total yield (t/ha) was recorded from
Weldele and Mareko Fana at both locations. The high yielding capacities were attributed to
their early flowering and maturity, days to first harvest, high marketable and total yield, dry
weight content of the varieties as well as their reaction to disease. Since, the present study
was done only for one season at two locations; it would be advisable to repeat the experiment
at different locations using different entries of hot pepper in order to arrive at a sound
conclusion.