Studies on Heterosis for Fruit Yield, Quality and ToLCV Resistant in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Aims: The current study was designed to investigate the nature and extent of heterosis for marketable fruit output, quality attributes, and resistance to tomato leaf curl virus.

Study Design: Statistical Randomized Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: The current study was conducted in Horticulture Research Field at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences at Prayagraj U.P. India during Rabi, 2016–17.

Methodology: The experimental included three testers and thirteen lines During Rabi, 2016–17, out of these, ten lines (female parents) were crossed with every three testers (male parents). The resulting 30 F1s were assessed for yield, fruit quality, and leaf curl virus resistance. To gather data, five plants from each replication were randomly tagged in each entry and analysis of variance was performed. Heterosis over better parent (BP) was calculated by treating each feature using the approach proposed by Hayes et al. [1]. The studied data were statically analyzed using the Indostat software Hyderabad program.

Results: The standard heterosis for fruit yield ranged from -67.19 to 29.70% Check (Kashi Abhiman). Five crosses viz., Arka Abha x Kashi Aman, Arka Abha x Kashi Vishesh, Pant T-7 x Kashi Vishesh, S-22 x H-88-78-5 and Pant T-7 x Kashi Aman were exhibited sufficient amount of significant and positive heterosis for fruit yield over standard check. The hybrids Azad T-5 x Kashi Aman and Pant T-7 x Kashi Aman exhibited low incidence with negative heterosis for the ToLCV incidence and severity.

Conclusion: Commercialization of hybrid vigor in tomato (Solanum lycopersium L.) has gained prominence due to various advantages of hybrids over pure line varieties, including higher marketable fruit output, component characteristics, and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. According to data presented in the study it is concluded that hybrid vigour can obtain by crossing of parents having desirable characters in tomato.