Heterosis in relation to combining ability for yield and quality attributes in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Genetical studies on fruit yield per plant and its attributing traits alongwith quality traits like total soluble solids (TSS) and rind thickness were conducted following line x tester mating design comprising of 8 lines and 6 testers at Horticulture Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur. The analysis revealed that all the parents were found good general combiners for most of the characters. However, line IGBO 65 and tester KS 327 were found best combiners for fruit yield per plant. The ratio of gca variance/ sca variance were observed less than unity for all the characters which revealed the predominance of non-additive gene action. The hybrid, IGBL 70 X PPL was found best on the basis of specific combining ability and heterosis for fruit yield per plant. A high magnitude of heterosis (115.84%) for fruit yield per plant over better parent was observed. There was high heterosis response in most of the hybrids which supports the role of non-additive gene effects. The heterosis in relation to combining ability for quality parameters i.e. TSS and rind thickness were also found significantly high in the respective hybrids, IGBO 40 X KS 331 and IGBR 44 X IVBL 9. Indirect selection for traits such as, plant height, fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth and branches per plant could be done in order to achieve higher yield through heterosis breeding in brinjal.