Analysis of Heterosis and Stability in Brinjal at Multi-locations of Gujarat for Yield and its Attributing Traits

Abstract

Background: Brinjal is the important vegetable crop. The extensive use of heterosis in vegetable crops has led to the creation of numerous high-yielding hybrid cultivars. Newly developed hybrids should also be tested across environments to develop region specific hybrids or hybrid for all the regions. Methods: The purpose of the present experiment was to develop region-specific brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) hybrids through line ´ tester design and to gather information on heterosis and stability for fruit yield and associated characters at multiple locations of viz., Sardarkrushinagar, Jagudan and Bhiloda under the jurisdiction of S.D.A.U. in late rabi 2021–2022. Result: There were noticeable genetic differences in the material for the majority of the traits. Several crosses were identified which showed desirable heterosis for at least one yield component in individual and pooled over locations. Fruit yield per plant is the most important trait. Hybrid ‘ISD-006 × GOB-5’ showed the highest fruit yield and maximum standard heterosis for fruit yield per plant, fruit girth, fruit weight, total soluble solids and chlorophyll content index. The interaction of G × E was highly significant for the majority of characters suggesting the differential response of experimental material to the varied locations. Stability analysis suggested ‘ISD-006 × GAB-6’, ‘JDNB-16-1 × GOB-1’ and ‘ABSR-2 × GAB-6’ as the top three stable crosses for fruit yield per plant. Overall, ‘ISD-006 × GRB-5’ appeared to be an outstanding cross for fruit yield and its attributing traits in terms of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in individual and pooled environments. As well as it was found to be average stable for four major traits and stable in favourable environments for fruit weight and yield per plant. Also, incorporating hybrids identified in this experiment might potentially result in transgressive segregants in brinjal.