Combining ability for yield and its contributing traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The experiment was conducted with 15 F_xs developed through diallel technique excluding reciprocals along with six parents namely, Pusa Sheetal, Pusa Sadabahar, Booster, DT-39, Pusa Uphar and Chiku in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Based on magnitude of GCA effects for yield and yield related traits the best parent was Pusa Sadabahar for days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, number of fruit/cluster and total yield/plant. Chiku showed highest GCA effects for fruit weight whereas, GCA effects for fruit diameter was highest in Pusa Uphar. The best SCA effects for most of the traits, viz. days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit set, number of fruits/cluster and yield/plant was observed in the combination Pusa Sheetal x Pusa Sadabahar whereas, Pusa Uphar x Chiku showed highest SCA effects for fruit weight. Booster x DT-39 showed highest SCA effects for number of fruit/plant and fruit diameter. The combination Pusa Sadabahar x Pusa Uphar exhibited highest SCA effect for fruit length.