Gene action for yield components and fruit quality characters of tomato genotypes possessing mutant genes through generation mean analysis

Nature of gene action for fruit yield and quality characters of tomato was determined analyzing the mean and variances of the six genetic populations (P_p P₂, F_p F₂, BCj and BC₂) of three cross combinations involving parental lines possessing mutant genes viz., Alisa Craig AftAftx Alisa Craig hp-1 hp-1, Alisa Craig Aft Aftx Alisa Craig og^cog^c and Alisa Craig AftAftx BCT 115 dg dg. In most of the characters in three cross combinations, simple additive/dominance model was inadequate to explain the gene action which indicated the involvement of epistasis in the control of the character concerned. The characters were under the control of both fixable and non-fixable gene effects, but non-fixable gene effects were predominant. Duplicate type epistasis for most of the characters would hinder the pace of progress through selection. Postponement of selection in later generations and development of hybrids were the best breeding strategy because non-fixable gene effects were predominant for most of the characters.