Assessment of combining ability comprising alc, nor and rin mutant alleles of tomato under main and late planting seasons

Abstract

Seventy four genotypes of the tomato (14 lines, four testers of ripening mutant and their 56 F1 crosses developed in line ? tester mating fashion) were appraised under main (E1) and late (E2) planting season at Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. To find out few general and specific combiners, if some, which might be utilized in furthermore breeding programmes to prolong the fruit harvesting span of tomato in the Punjab conditions. The findings hinted in general, the particular parent or hybrid could not be used to assess all examined characters with same efficiency. In main (E1) season line, FL-556 was found best general combiner for average fruit weight, locules number, pericarp thickness, P/E ratio, dry matter and lycopene content; PAU 114 for average fruit weight, lesser locules, pericarp thickness, TSS and dry matter. During late (E2) planting season line, Punjab Ratta found with good GCA values for average fruit weight, lesser locules number, pericarp thickness and TSS content; Roma for average fruit weight, locules number, pericarp thickness and P/E ratio. Similarly tester, alc-IIHR-2050 for pollen viability, minimum days from transplanting to first harvest, harvesting span, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness and P/E ratio in main (E1) season while, for pollen viability, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness and P/E ratio in late (E2) season. The received results furthermore illustrated the best combinations that possessed significant values of SCA which effectively combine to develop a cross with good performance. In main (E1) season from combinations, F1 hybrid SMZ-867 ? rin-Rutgers were registered with best specific combiner for pollen viability, average fruit weight, lesser locules number, Pericarp thickness and P/E ratio; PAU 2381 ? nor-RM-1 for harvesting span, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness, total fruit yield and lycopene content. Likewise, in late (E2) season cross, SMZ-867 ? nor-RM-1 for pollen viability, minimum days from transplanting to first harvest, harvesting span and fruit yield; LT-44 ? alc-IIHR-2050 for pollen viability, average fruit weight, lesser locules and pericarp thickness.