Utilization of NOR, RIN and ALC Alleles to Prolong Shelf Life of Tomato

Sixty F₁ hybrids involving ripening mutants nor, rin and ale were evaluated for shelf life at refrigerated (20°C) and room temperature (32°C) conditions for two years. The analysis of line x tester design revealed that both additive and non-additive gene effects controlled the inheritance of shelf life in tomato. Among the males, mutant nor Rutger, rin Rutger and rin T-3 were better combiners than alc Rutger to improve the shelf life at both the storage regimes. UC-82B, Castle Rock, WIR-4329, San Pedro, P-2-8-4, and Nemadoro were superior among the female parents. Under either of the storage conditions about fifty percent of the hybrids exhibited significant positive SCA effects. The shelf life of best heterotic hybrid UC-82B x rin T-3 was 120 percent longer than that of the commercial checks TH-802 or Rupali. Based upon yield, appearance and shelf life, crosses IPA-3 x rin T-3, L-3841 x rin Rutger, 8-2-1-2-5 x rin Rutger, P-2-8-4 x rin T-3 and UC-82B x rin T-3 can be pursued to exploit distant as well as local markets.