Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and its component characters in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

The present investigation was undertaken with a view to generate genetic information on heterosis and inbreeding depression for 12 quantitative traits in brinjal through generation mean analysis. The experimental materials comprise of six basic generations viz., P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁ and BC₂ of four crosses of brinjal namely; AB-8-14 × S. Mani Black (cross 1), AB-15-07 × Pant Rituraj (cross 2), JB-12-06 × GJB-3 (cross 3) and NBR 14-1 × GJLB-4 (cross 4). The results indicated that the heterosis and inbreeding depression differed for the same trait in different cross combinations. Magnitude of heterotic effect was high for plant height, fruit weight and plant spread. The highest positive heterobeltiosis for fruit weight was observed in the cross 1(AB-8-14 × S. Mani Black) followed by high positive heterobeltiosis for plant height in cross 3 (JB-12-06 × GJB-3). Negative estimates of heterotic effects which were observed in some traits may be attributed to inter-allelic interactions.