Estimation of heterosis for yield, yield attributes and quality parameters in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

An investigation on three kinds of heterosis was taken up in twenty one single crosses along with ten parents and two standard checks (Arka Anand and Mahy Hari) at PG Students research farm, College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Studies revealed that appreciable amount of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in desirable direction were recorded in a good number of crosses for majority of yield and yield contributing characters. The hybrids, RCBG-1 x Bhagyamathi for eleven characters viz., number of branches per plant, number of flower clusters per plant, number of fruits per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit weight(g), fruit yield per plant(kg), marketable yield per plant(kg), total yield per hectare(tons), total marketable yield per hectare(tons), ascorbic acid content(mg/100g) and total phenols content(mg/100g), RCBG-4 x Shyamala for number of flower clusters per plant, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit weight(g), fruit yield per plant(kg), marketable yield per plant(kg), total yield per hectare(tons), total marketable yield per hectare(tons), and total phenols content(mg/100g), RCBG-2 x Bhagyamathi, RCBG-7 x Shyamala, RCBG-1 x Shyamala each for nine different yield and its contributing characters, were found superior and recorded significant standard heterosis and heterobeltiosis. The identified hybrids may be further tested over locations, seasons and years for commercial release for commercial cultivation.