Heterosis study for quality attributing traits in different crosses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate the heterosis of 30 tomato crosses combination involving thirteen parent and one check in Line × Tester mating design at Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.), India, during Rabi 2008-2009. Data were analyzed for various qualitative traits viz., fruit shape index, pericarp thickness and titratable acidity. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference for all the traits. Heterosis observed in F1 generation, which varied from character to character. Significant heterosis of positive nature was found for fruit shape index, pericarp thickness and titratable acidity over better parent and standard check, respectively. Thirteen hybrids possessed significantly useful heterobeltiosis for total soluble solid. The present investigation was undertaken to study and generate information about heterosis, which would help to assess the prepotency of parents in hybrid combinations.