Dept of Horticulture, College of Horticulture
1Vegetable Research Station, Dr YSR Horticultural University, Rajendranagar-500030, AP
2Dept of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar-500030, AP
Heterosis for yield and quality in tomato was studied through line × tester analysis of 24 F1 hybrids derived by crossing eight lines namely EC-165749, EC-157568, EC-164838, EC-163611, LE-53, LE-56, LE-62 and LE-64 with three testers (Arka Alok, Arka Meghali and Arka Vikas). The resultant 24 F1s were evaluated along with their parents and two standard checks (Lakshmi and US-618) for yield and quality characters. Studies on heterosis revealed that majority of the hybrids exhibited relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis, standard heterosis in desirable direction. The hybrids exhibited high per se performance and also showed high standard heterosis. The cross LE-62 × Arka Vikas registered high negative standard heterosis (ie for earliness) for days to 50 per cent flowering. The potential crosses like LE-64 × Arka Vikas, LE-53 × Arka Alok, LE-53 × Arka Meghali, LE-64 × Arka Meghali and LE-62 × Arka Alok exhibited high standard heterosis and high per se performance for yield per plant which offers scope of commercial exploitation through heterosis breeding. Among promising hybrids for yield per plant the crosses LE-53 × Arka Alok for TSS and titrable acidity, LE53 × Arka Meghali for titrable acidity and lycopene content and LE-64 × Arka Meghali for titrable acidity and ascorbic acid showed significant standard heterosis. Hence these are appreciable for processing purpose.
Heterosis, quality, tomato, yield
