Impact of Heterosis on Yield Components and Quality Enhancement in Tomato Production (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

An experiment on impact of heterosis on yield components and quality characters was studied using line x tester analysis of 50 F₁ hybrids of tomato derived from the crosses between 10 lines and 5 testers was conducted at the Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2012–13 and 2013–14. In this study, among crosses, the best cross combinations in favourable direction were observed for EC 620383 x Punjab Chhuhara. The line, Punjab Varkha Bahar2 and cross EC 620533 x Arka Vikas recorded significantly maximum heterosis for number of fruits per truss. The cross BBWR-11-1 x Palam Pink recorded higher number of fruits per plant and the cross EC 620391 x Punjab Chhuhara, the line Punjab Varkha Bahar-2 and tester Arka Meghali recorded the maximum total fruit yield per plant compared to standard checks. The highest TSS was noted in line EC 620445 tester Hisar Meghali had more TSS than the check variety Hisar Arun. Among crosses, the cross EC 620534 x Arka Vikas recorded the highest TSS manifesting higher heterosis for TSS.