Abstract
Heterosis has been amply exploited in developing hybrids in brinjal. In India, only 17.8% area of brinjal cultivation is under hybrid seed due to lack of appropriate hybrids for specific area and purpose. In the present investigation, 14 parents were selected on the basis of divergence and mated in line (L) × tester (T) design hybrids and parents were raised to measure heterosis for different yield attributes. 40 hybrids resulting from a L × T mating design comprised of 10 lines (female) and 4 testers (males) were studied to determine the magnitude of heterosis and genotypic correlation between yield and yield characters. Expression of superiority over the commercial check occurred in 7 crosses, which ranged from -56.36 (L3 × T4) to 34.07% (L7 × T2). The hybrid (L7 × T2) had good heterosis values for growth and yield and is recommended as the most promising combination for developing high yielding hybrid eggplant varieties. Most crosses involving T2 as tester parent had significant positive heterosis over the mid-parent and standard variety. There were strong correlations between fruit yield and numbers of branches per plant, average fruit weight and number of fruit per plant. Path analysis indicated that plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit pedicel length, number of fruit per plant, average fruit weight and little leaf incidence had direct and positive effects on yield per plant, but negative and direct effects occurred for days to first flowering, fruit circumference, calyx length, shoot borer infestation, fruit borer infestation, ascorbic acid content and total phenol content. Simple selection would be effective for improvement of fruit yield. Key words: Solanum melongena, association analysis, hybrid vigour.
Highlights
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), known as eggplant and an important vegetable crop of India
14 parents were selected on the basis of divergence and mated in line (L) × tester (T) design hybrids and parents were raised to measure heterosis for different yield attributes. 40 hybrids resulting from a L × T mating design comprised of 10 lines and 4 testers were studied to determine the magnitude of heterosis and genotypic correlation between yield and yield characters
The hybrid (L7 × T2) had good heterosis values for growth and yield and is recommended as the most promising combination for developing high yielding hybrid eggplant varieties
Summary
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), known as eggplant and an important vegetable crop of India. It is widely cultivated in both temperate and tropical regions of the globe mainly for its immature fruits. Brinjal deserves a deep deliberation for improvement. It should be highly pragmatic by the fact that, India being the centre of origin and diversity of brinjal, it should pave the way for bringing about a kind of plant type, which could enhance its quality and productivity without sacrificing the consumer needs (Shafeeq et al, 2007). Quality and productivity of eggplant can be improved through heterosis breeding (Kakikazi, 1931). Yield is the end product of many correlated characters. The study was under taken to study the extent of heterosis in different crosses and their utilization in future crop improvement
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