Studies on Heterosis in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Throughout the last century, Brinjal breeding has been based on various standard methods, which has ultimately resulted in the development of improved tomato cultivars and hybrids having high quality and yield attributes. In the present study, a total of 22 entries consisting of 6 diversified genotypes of brinjal along with their 15 F₁ hybrids and one standard check were evaluated during kharif season under randomized block design with three replications. Data on quantitative characters were recorded and per cent better-parent and standard heterosis were determined. Significant levels of heterosis were detected for all the traits studied. Pronounced heterosis over better-parent was observed for Plant height in Arka Nidhi×Arka Kusmakar (57.64%), Plant stem girth in Pusa Purple Cluster×Arka Shirish (10.00%), fruit yield plant⁻¹, number of fruits plant⁻¹ in Pusa Purple Cluster×Pant Samrat (56.16%, 40.56% respectively), fruit length Arka Neelkanth×Arka Kusmakar (37.92%) and average fruit weight in Arka Neelkanth×Pant Samrat (28.43%). The cross Pusa Purple Cluster×Pant Samrat showed significant negative heterosis over better parent and standard check for earliness (days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering and days to first harvesting). In this study Pusa Purple Cluster×Pant Samrat found superior for most of the characters (earliness and yield plant⁻¹) and it can be commercially exploited after assessing their stability.