Heterosis and potence ratios for growth, earliness, yield and quality traits in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. Cerasiforme Mill)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to estimate the heterosis and potence ratios for growth, earliness, yield and quality traits in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. Var. Cerasiforme Mill.) by using eight lines crossed in half diallele fashion. ANOVA for diallel analysis revealed the presence sufficient genetic diversity for different traits in the experimental for mid parent heterosis obtained in both positive and negative direction. Among 28 crosses, only three crosses naming L 04780 X L 00398 (86.05 %), L 00398 X L 00196 (59.09%) and L 01696 X L 03686 (56.10 %) found to be most promising for fruit yield per plant. The estimated values of potence ratio illustrated that in most F1 crosses potence ratios had reflected, various degrees of dominance; partial- to over dominance which involved in the inheritance of these characters. In the present investigation out of 28 hybrids 17 and 18 hybrids in positive direction for plant height at 60 and 90 DAT, 10 positive for number of primary branches, 14 hybrids in negative direction (desirable) for days to first flowering, 18 hybrids in days to 50 per cent flowering, 19 hybrids in fruit yield per plant and 19 in TSS. Hybrids estimated positive or negative potence ratio with >1 value is the indication of prevalence of over dominance in desirable direction and scope for exploitation via heterosis breeding in cherry tomato.