Heterosis and resistance against tomato leaf curl virus disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Eight genetically diverse genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were used to produce 28 F1 crosses in a diallel pattern excluding reciprocals during 2011–12 and these F1 and parents were evaluated during two consecutively years (2012–13 and 2013–14) to identify heterotic hybrids of tomato with resistance to tomato leaf curl virus disease (ToLCVD). The promising hybrid Pant T-3 × Punjab Chhuhara (25.86%) and Pant T-3 × H-24 (60.11%) produced highest heterosis for number of fruits per plant and total yield per plant, respectively. Five hybrids viz. Arka Meghali × Azad T-5, Pant T-3 × H-88-78-1, Pant T-3 × H-24, H-88-78-1 × H-24 and H-24 × Sel7 were observed to be having field resistance for ToLCVD, and these resistant hybrids could be used in breeding programmes for developing virus resistant cultivars.