Line × tester analysis for yield and component traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to estimate the general and specific combining ability variances and their effects for different quantitative characters in tomato. Line × Tester analysis including ten lines and five testers illustrated the preponderance SCA over GCA for all the traits studied. Based on desirable GCA effects, lines ToLcv-28, Pant T-5, Kashi Hemant and Kashi Amrit emerged out as good general combiner while, tester, H-86 for fruit yield quintal per hectare. High GCA for fruit yield quintal per hectare was associated with high fruit length, fruit width, days to 50 % flowering and plant height. Based on desirable SCA effects for fruit yield quintal per hectare, Pant T-5 × Selection-7, Pant T-5 × Punjab Barkha, Prestige × ToLcv-16, L-97/754 × Selection-7 and Roma × Tolcv-16 were marked as most promising crosses and recommended for further exploitation in the breeding program. The ratio of specific combining ability and general combining ability variance (σ2SCA:σ2GCA) was greater than unity, specifying non-additive genetic control for all studied traits. The above findings gesture towards the use of heterosis breeding as the key method for exploiting the available genetic variability in the pool of material studied.