Heterosis and resistance against tomato leaf curl virus disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Eight genetically diverse genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were used to produce 28 F₁ crosses in a diallel pattern excluding reciprocals during 2011–12 and these F₁ and parents were evaluated during two consecutively years (2012–13 and 2013–14) to identify heterotic hybrids of tomato with resistance to tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD). The promising hybrid Pant T-3 × Punjab Chhuhara (25.86%) and Pant T-3 × H-24 (60.11%) produced highest heterosis for number of fruits per plant and total yield per plant, respectively. Five hybrids viz. Arka Meghali × Azad T-5, Pant T-3 × H-88-78-1, Pant T-3 × H-24, H-88-78-1 × H-24 and H-24 × Sel7 were observed to be having field resistance for ToLCVD, and these resistant hybrids could be used in breeding programmes for developing virus resistant cultivars.