Expression of heterosis for productive traits in F1 eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) hybrids

Abstract

This study was carried out to obtain estimates of heterosis in crosses between seven eggplant cultivars (Embu = E; Santa Genebra = SG; Viserba = V; Aubergine de Barbentane = AB; Florida Market 10 = FM; Black Beauty = BB, and Melitino = M) and two breeding lines (B-14-07 = B1 and B-31-06 = B2). The F1 hybrids used were: E x FM; E x BB; E x M; E x B1; E x B2; SG x FM; SG x BB; SG x M; SG x B1; SG x B2; V x FM; V x B1; V x B2; AB x FM; AB x M; AB x B1; AB x B2 and M x FM. Cultivars, lines and hybrids were evaluated at the ESAL experimental field in Lavras, MG, from February to October 1992. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Significant heterosis relative to the parental means was detected for all traits studied. Their values ranged from +41.23% to +113.31% for total fruit yield, from -11.45% to +26.17% for average fruit weight, and from +27.98% to +141.81% for early production. Heterosis relative to the superior parent ranged from +13.89% to +92.51% for total fruit yield. Hybrid pairs: SG x FM and AB x B1, V x FM and AB x FM, E x M and AB x B1 were the most heterotic relative to the parental mean for total fruit production, mean fruit weight and early production, respectively. The hybrids displaying highest heterosis relative to the superior parent for total yield were AB x B1 and SG x FM.