High Narrow-sense Heritability Research Articles

A Classical Genetic Solution to Enhance the Biosynthesis of Anticancer Phytochemicals in Andrographis paniculata Nees

Andrographolides, the diterpene lactones, are major bioactive phytochemicals which could be found in different parts of the medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata. A number of such compounds namely andrographolide (AG), neoandrographolide (NAG), and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (DDAG) have already attracted a great deal of attention due to their potential therapeutic effects in hard-to-treat diseases such as cancers and HIV. Recently, they have also been considered as substrates for the discovery of novel pharmaceutical compounds. Nevertheless, there is still a huge gap in knowledge on the genetic pattern of the biosynthesis of these bioactive compounds. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the genetic mechanisms controlling the biosynthesis of these phytochemicals using a diallel analysis. The high performance liquid chromatography analysis of the three andrographolides in 210 F1 progenies confirmed that the biosynthesis of these andrographolides was considerably increased via intraspecific hybridization. The results revealed high, moderate and low heterosis for DDAG, AG and NAG, respectively. Furthermore, the preponderance of non-additive gene actions was affirmed in the enhancement of the three andrographolides contents. The consequence of this type of gene action was the occurrence of high broad-sense and low narrow-sense heritabilities for the above mentioned andrographolides. The prevalence of non-additive gene action suggests the suitability of heterosis breeding and hybrid seed production as a preferred option to produce new plant varieties with higher andrographolide contents using the wild accessions of A. paniculata. Moreover, from an evolutionary point of view, the occurrence of population bottlenecks in the Malaysian accessions of A. paniculata was unveiled by observing a low level of additive genetic variance (VA) for all the andrographolides.

Combining ability of yield attributes traits, oil and protein contents in oil seed rape (Brassica napus) under normal and restricted nitrogen application

Combining ability of yield associated traits has been studied quite frequently in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) but it was hardly ever studied based on nitrogen levels variations. Six parents along with their 15 F2 half diallel crosses were evaluated in two nitrogen (N) levels including N0 and N+. Analysis of variance revealed significant mean squares of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) for all the traits studied. The high narrow-sense heritability estimates were found for seed yield and harvest index, implying the more importance of additive genetic effects for and consequently high selection efficiency for improving these traits. Due to low narrow-sense heritability estimates for oil and protein contents and therefore more importance of non-additive genetic effects, selection for improving these traits should be done in later segregating generations. The GCA × N level interaction was significant only for oil content which is indicating of more differences of GCA effect of this trait at two nitrogen levels. Significant N × SCA effect mean squares for harvest index and oil content, revealed significant variation of SCA effects of these traits in nitrogen levels application. Most of the crosses with high seed yield at N0 and N+ had at least one parent with positive GCA effect at both N levels. Among the six parents, PF7045/91 appeared to be the best combiner for seed yield at the N0. This variety also showed high GCA at the N+ but its low oil content at the N+ is certainly disadvantageous as the quality of the hybrid is often intermediate between the two parents.

Hybrid Vigour and Genetic Control of Some Quantitative Traits of Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.)

Parental lines, F1 generation of domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium L. were evaluated at Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka for improvement in their quantitative traits. The experiment was laid out in a randomized com- plete block design with three replications. Data were collected on the quantitative traits and fruit yield. Better Parent Heterosis (BPH), genetic variances, gene effects and heritability of the traits were estimated for the hybrids. BPH result showed that the Wild × Petomech cross had the highest positive BPH of 358.36% in fruit yield. The highest negative BPH of −95.59% was recorded for the hybrid, Wild × Grosso in average fruit weight while the hybrid, Insulata × Grosso had the lowest negative BPH of −16.27% in average fruit weight. Additive gene action and additive × additive gene action (aa) were significantly in control of three crosses, W × P, W × In and W × G in fruit yield. Additive variance was higher than dominance variance in fruit yield for all the hybrids with wild as one of its parents. Again, hybrids with wild as one of its parent as, W × G, W × In, and W × P had the highest narrow sense heritability in fruit yield (59.15%, 51.69%, 59.88%, respectively). High level of epistasis controlled some of the quantitative traits and hybridization evidenced by the result was effective in developing new tomato cultivars with positive heterotic effects in fruit yield.

Genetic variation for growth and yield parameters in half-sib progenies of Melia azedarach (Linn.)

Fifty-four progenies of Melia azedarach selected from 11 geographical locations in India were evaluated for different growth parameters at the seed farm at Ladhowal, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Significant differences were observed among and within progenies for all characters at the age of 8 years. Progeny number 1 exhibited superior growth for all traits except clear bole height and number of branches. High narrow-sense heritability (progeny basis, within-progeny basis, and individual plant basis) was higher for mean annual increments for total height and diameter at breast height than other recorded growth parameters. Genetic gain within progeny selection was higher than progeny selection for all traits. Fifty-four progenies clustered into 8 clusters on the basis of the Euclidean distance of the observed traits. Out of 54 progenies, progeny number 10 (Himachal Pradesh, Solan seed source) was found to be the best for the characters studied on the basis of adjusted treatment mean ranking for further multiplication.

Genetic Behavior and Relative Importance of Some Morpho-physiological andYield Components in Relation to Grain Yield in Maize ( Zea mays L. )

The present study was undertaken to study the gene action, narrow sense heritability, interrelationships among traits and path coefficient analysis for grain yield and its components, silking date, plant and ear height, leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf weight (SLW) and specific leaf area (SLA). Fifteen hybrids produced using a half diallel fashion in 2008 season were evaluated for grain yield and its components and morpho- physiological traits during 2009 season. The obtained results indicate that all estimates of VA and VD were significant for all traits except VA for specific leaf weight and ear length. In addition, VD for grain yield per plot, leaf area index, specific leaf weight, plant height, ear length, ear diameter, number of rows per ear and number of kernel per row. However, the magnitude of VA was consistently larger than that of VD for all traits. High narrow sense heritability estimates were detected for leaf area index (93%), leaf angel (90%), plant height (90%), ear height (89%), ear length (89%), number of rows per ear (89%) and number of kernel per row (83%). However, moderate narrow sense heritability estimates were obtained for grain yield per plot (77%), one hundred kernel weight (77%), silking date (74%), ear diameter (74%), specific leaf area (64%) and specific leaf weight (55%). While it was very low for stay green (5%). These results indicate the importance of choosing the suitable segregating generations for exhibiting the best expression of gene of different studied traits. Correlation coefficients among traits indicated that grain yield was positively and significantly associated with ear diameter (0.788**), one hundred kernel weight (0.747**), ear length (0.600**), specific leaf weight (0.518**), leaf area index (0.466**), number of rows per ear (0.458**), plant height (0.408**), number of kernels per row (0.361*) and silking date (0.351*). The path coefficient analysis was calculated to detect the relative importance of characters contributing to grain yield per plot. Data show that each of ear diameter, one hundred kernel weight and ear length had high positive direct effects on grain yield per plot.

Inheritance of Resistance to Powdery Mildew Race 2 in Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus

Information on the mode of inheritance of powdery mildew resistance in watermelon is important for designing a breeding strategy for the development of new cultivars. Resistance in the watermelon accession PI 270545 was investigated by generation means analysis by crossing it with susceptible PI 267677. The analyses showed involvement of two genes, a recessive resistance gene, pmr-1, and a dominant gene for moderate resistance, Pmr-2. Resistance to powdery mildew in the leaf had a large dominance effect and a heritability of 71%. The additive-dominance model was inadequate in explaining variation in leaf resistance as revealed by the joint scaling test. However, nonallelic interactions could not be detected by the nonweighted six-parameter scaling test. For stem resistance, the additive-dominance model was adequate, and inheritance was controlled mainly by additive effects. A high narrow-sense heritability of 79% suggested that selection for stem resistance in early generations would be effective.

Genetic Analysis of Adult Plant Resistance to Yellow Rust and Leaf Rust in Common Spring Wheat Quaiu 3.

Identifying and utilizing rust resistance genes in wheat has been hampered by the continuous and rapid emergence of new pathogen races. A major focus of many wheat breeding programs is achieving durable adult plant resistance (APR) to yellow (stripe) rust (YR) and leaf (brown) rust (LR), caused by Puccinia striiformis and P. triticina, respectively. This study aimed to determine the genetic basis of resistance to YR and LR in the common spring wheat 'Quaiu 3'. To that end, we evaluated 198 F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross of susceptible 'Avocet-YrA' with Quaiu 3, for APR to LR and YR in artificially inoculated field trials conducted in Mexico during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. High narrow-sense heritability (h2) estimates, ranging between 0.91 and 0.95, were obtained for both LR and YR disease severities for both years. The quantitative and qualitative approaches used to estimate gene numbers showed that, in addition to known resistance genes, there are at least two to three APR genes associated with LR and YR resistance in the RIL population. The moderately effective race-specific resistance gene Lr42 and the pleiotropic slow-rusting APR gene Lr46/Yr29 were found to interact with additional unidentified APR genes. The unidentified APR genes should be of particular interest for further characterization through molecular mapping, and for utilization by wheat breeding programs.

English

  This study was carried out to determine the relative importance of additive, dominance and epistatic effects of six agronomic traits evaluated in two crosses under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Separate generations mean analyses revealed that gene effects were dependent upon water regime. Under irrigated regime, only additive and dominance effects were implicated in inheritance of all traits, except plant height in the two crosses and grains per spike in the cross Razzek × Chili. However, under rainfed condition, additive, dominance and epistasis effects were induced in the genetic control of these traits. Thus, epistasis effect was water regime depended and seems to play a significant role in the genetic adaptability of populations. The variation of inheritance and the presence of genetic interactions complicate the procedure of breeding. Under irrigated regime, selection would be simpler because only additive and dominance effects were implicated in the genetic control of all traits. Consequently, the genetic mechanism would not be stable when plants are grown in environment with lower water availability. However, for the stability of suitable cultivars, selection under rainfed condition (lower water availability) was suggested. The moderate to high narrow-sense heritability estimates for the majority of traits indicate that selection would be efficient.   Key words: Durum wheat, epistatic effect, genetic adaptability, heritability, water regime.

Genetic variation of wood chemical traits and association with underlying genes in Eucalyptus urophylla

We developed a quantitative and association genetic study with Eucalyptus urophylla using a progeny trial. Based on a sample of 831 trees distributed in 84 half-sib families whose wood was phenotyped by near-infrared spectroscopy, the results showed that traits related to lignin, cellulose, and wood extractives presented significant additive genetic variability with moderate to high narrow sense heritability (h 2 = 0.28 to 0.93). Genetic correlations varied with high standard error and showed low to moderate values. Using three cellulose synthase genes (EuCesA1, EuCesA2, and EuCesA3) and three candidate genes involved in the lignin pathway (EuC4H1, EuC4H2, and EuCAD2), an association study was performed for each of the gene action models (co-dominant, recessive, and dominant) using two methods. Firstly, single-marker association tests were done and 539 tests (49 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) × 11 traits) were analyzed. After Bonferroni correction with a significance level of P = 0.00102, only four SNPs presented significant association with syringyl and syringyl-to-guaiacyl ratio with an adjusted coefficient of determination varying between 2.6 and 4.4 %. Secondly, a model selection method, the backward approach, was implemented. Similar SNPs were detected by both the backward selection and the individual marker approaches. However, the latter detected new associations with other traits, genes, and SNPs and improved the quality of the model as shown by the BIC criteria and the higher adjusted determination coefficient (1.5 to 8.3 %). Our results reveal that cellulose genes can be associated with lignin traits (syringyl-to-guaiacyl ratio) and stress the possible pleiotropic effect of some genes.

Combining ability of nitrogen deficiency stress indices for plant height in rapeseed varieties

Although an average plant height is more preferable in most of agronomic crops, less reduction of this trait in stress condition makes yield components and seed yield sustainable in rapeseed varieties. Combining ability, heterosis and heritability of plant height at application and non-application of nitrogen environments (Hp and Hs, respectively) and its related stress tolerance indices were detected in half F2 diallel crosses of six spring rapeseed varieties. Significant mean squares of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) were detected for Hp, Hs, mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP) and stress tolerance index (STI), indicating the importance of additive and non-additive genetic effects for them. A high narrow-sense heritability estimate was exhibited for STI, emphasizing the prime importance of additive genetic effects for this stress tolerance index. A significant correlation among Hp, Hs, MP, GMP and STI showed the efficiency of these stress indices for improving plant height in plant breeding programme. In comparison to SCA effects, most of the crosses had significant high parent heterosis for Hp, Hs and all the stress indices. RGS003 with a significant positive GCA effect of Hs was considered as a suitable parent for improving this trait and most of the combinations of this genotype had significant negative SCA effects.

Heterosis and heterobeltiosis of yield associated traits in rapeseed cultivars under limited nitrogen application

Half F2 diallel crosses of six spring cultivars of rapeseed (Brassicanapus L.) were used to estimate heterosis effects of yield components, seed yield, oil percentage, and oil yield under limited nitrogen condition. Significant mean squares of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) were detected for pods per main axis, pods per plant, length of pod, seeds per pods, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, and oil content and oil yield indicated respectively the importance of additive and non-additive genetic effects for these traits. High narrowsense heritability estimates for 1000-seed weight, oil percentage, and oil yield indicating the prime importance of additive genetic effects for these traits. Most of the cross combinations with significant positive heterobeltiosis for seed yield had also significant heterobeltiosis effects for pods per plant and pods on main axis; therefore these traits can be used as indirect selection criteria for improving seed yield. Significant positive correlation of mean performances with heterosis and heterobeltiosis effects for most of the traits except 1000-seed weight indicated that selection of the superior crosses based on heterosis and heterobeltiosis effects will be effective for their mean performances improving these traits except 1000- seed weight. Significant positive correlation was determined between pods per plant and seed yield, indicating that this trait can be used as good selection criterion for seed yield improvement. The crosses including RAS-3/99 × RW-008911 and RAS- 3/99 × RGS-003 with high significant positive heterobeltiosis effects of seed yield were superior combinations for seed yield increasing.

Combining ability analysis of days to silking, plant height, yield components and kernel yield in maize breeding lines

The present study was carried out to determine the combining ability for yield and yield associated traits by crossing 8 diverse maize inbred lines in a half diallel mating design. Twenty eight F1 progenies along with their parents were planted in randomized complete block design with four replications in two environments. Combined analysis of variance showed significant mean squares of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combing ability (SCA) for days to ear silking (DS), plant height (PH), 1000-kernel weight (KW), number of kernels in ear row (KR), number of rows in ear (NR), kernel length (KL), cob to ear weight ratio (CR) and kernel yield (KY) indicating the importance of both additive and non additive genetic effects for these traits. However, high narrow-sense heritability estimates, low degree of dominance and the ratio of estimates of GCA to SCA effects for DS, KW, NR and CR indicated that additive genetic effect were more important for these traits. Most of the crosses with significant SCA effects for DS and KY had at least one parent with significant GCA effects for the same traits. Significant positive correlations were detected between KY and other yield components which included; KW, KR and KL. Therefore, these traits can be used as indirect selection criteria for seed yield improvement. The crosses MO17 × L8, MO17 × L12 and MO17 × L24 had high KY and were thus, considered as good combinations for improving the trait. Key words: Additive, combined analysis, correlation, dominance, heritability.

Combining Ability Analysis of Plant Height and Yield Components in Spring Type of Rapeseed Varieties (Brassica napus L.) Using Line × Tester Analysis

Line ×tester of six lines and two testers of spring rapeseed (<i>Brassica napus </i>L.) cultivars were used to estimate general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) effects, high parent heterosis and narrow-sense heritability estimate for plant height, yield components and seed yield. Significant variance of line x tester for pods per plant and seed yield, indicating non additive genetic effects have important role for controlling these traits. Significant mean squares of parents vs crosses which are indicating significant average heterosis were also significant for all the traits except seeds per pod. High narrow-sense heritability estimates for all the traits except seeds per pod exhibited the prime importance of additive genetic effects for these traits except seeds per pod. Most of the crosses with negative SCA effect for plant height had at least one parent with significant negative or negative GCA effect for this trait. For most of the traits except pods per plant, the efficiency of high parent heterosis effect was more than SCA effect for determining superior cross combinations.

Genetic analysis of seed yield and oil content in safflower using F1 and F2 progenies of diallel crosses

Improvement of seed yield and oil content in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) as an oilseed crop is the main objective of its breeding programs. However, little genetic information is available for these traits. The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for seed yield and oil content. Six safflower lines each derived from different Iranian local populations and Saffire as a foreign cultivar were crossed in all combination as a diallel set without their reciprocals. Crosses were selfed to obtain seeds of F2 progenies. F1 and F2 progenies along with their parents were evaluated in two separate experiments to do F1 and F2 diallel analysis. The GCA mean squares were significant for all traits including seed yield per plant, heads per plant, seeds per head, 100-seed weight, days to flowering, plant height and oil content. In both analyses, positive GCA effects for seed yield were found for parental lines IUTE1449 and IUTH13, indicates that progeny with those genotypes as parents showed seed yields that were greater than the average of all crosses. The parental line IUTKH211 was the best combiner for developing genotypes with high oil content. For achieving genotypes with short time to flowering and plant height, Saffire was the best parent. GCA/SCA ratio indicated there were large additive effects for all the traits, except for seed yield per plant. Narrowsense heritability for seed yield per plant and oil content was 9.3 and 23.5%, receptively. However, seeds per head, 100-seed weight, days to flowering and plant height had moderate to high narrowsense heritability (79.8, 55.4, 65.6 and 89.4%, respectively). There was reasonable consistency for estimating genetic parameters from analysis of F1 and F2 progenies.

Narrow sense heritability estimates of bacterial leaf spot resistance in pseudo F2 (F1) population of mulberry (Morus spp.)

Bacterial leaf spot incited by Xanthomonas campestris pv. mori is a devastating foliar disease of mulberry reported globally. Host plant resistance is the most sustainable and economic control measure but so far unexplored. Highly heterozygous plant behaviour and scant genetic information of bacterial leaf spot resistance limits a targetted breeding approach in mulberry. In the present research eight pseudo-F2(F1)full-sib progenies derived from selected resistant and susceptible sources were evaluated symptomatically for bacterial leaf spot resistance under natural disease occurrence in 2008 and 2009. Significant variation for bacterial leaf spot resistance was observed in the parents and progenies. Broad sense heritability estimate (0.9) indicates that selection of resistant genotypes can be useful for exploitation in future advanced breeding programs for mulberry. High narrow sense heritability estimates (0.76)[2008] and (0.79)[2009] suggest additive gene effects for the disease resistant trait. The continuous frequency distribution of diseases severity across the progenies indicates that bacterial leaf spot resistance in mulberry may be inherited quantitatively.

Genetic analysis of some characters related to yield in vegetable soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Genetic analysis of twelve agronomic characters in 96 F 7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from soybean Changmai 60 × Kaori namely, leaf area, first flowering date, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight, plant height, pod numbers per plant, seed numbers per plant, seed numbers per pod, total seed weight per plant, and single seed weight, indicated that all characters were continuous variation with narrow-sense heritability between 0.30 and 0.74, and that some characters exhibited transgressive segregation. All but single-seed-weight character were statistically correlated with total-seed-weight-per-plant character. However, only pod-numbers-per-plant, and seed-numbers-per-plant characters had the highest correlation coefficients with total-seeds-weight-per-plant character having r ’s of 0.939 and 0.927, respectively. In addition, both characters had the highest narrow-sense heritability of 0.72 and 0.74, respectively. Therefore, these two characters should be employed in the vegetable soybean breeding program for high yield.

Combining ability and heritability estimates of main agronomic characters in rapeseed breeding lines using line × tester analysis

To estimate the general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA) effects of plant height, yield components, seed yield and oil content, three testers and six lines of spring type of rapeseed varieties were crossed using line ? tester fashion. Significant mean squares of parents and crosses for all the traits indicated significant genetic variation among the parents and their F1 crosses. Significant mean squares of parents vs crosses revealed significant average heterosis for all the traits except seeds per pod, 1000-seed weight and oil content. High narrow-sense heritability estimates for all the traits except seeds per pod, indicating the importance of additive genetic effects for these traits. Due to more importance of additive genetic effects for most of the traits, only a few of the crosses exhibited significant SCA effects. A significant positive correlation between seed yield and some of yield components including pods on main axis, pods per plant and 1000-seed weight indicates that these traits can be used as suitable selection criteria for improving of seed yield. The crosses including Opt ? R01, RG06 ? R01, RG06 ? R08 and RGS3 ? R08 with 3241.91, 3213.68, 3334.28 and 3237.45 kg ha-1 of seed yield detected as prior combinations for improving of this trait and all of these combinations had also positive SCA effect for this trait.

Heterosis for callus growth rate from mature embryo culture of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Information about the genetics of callus formation is needed for efficient in vitro selection. Hybrid breeding has been proposed for genetic improvement in the crop, but there isn’t enough information on heterosis for callus growth in crosses among crop genotypes in Iran. In the present study, genetic analysis of three in vitro characters (percentage of callus induction, callus diameter, callus fresh weight) for five inbreed line of rapeseed such as Orakel, ACSN1, P504588, P704591 and Boanty were carried out through a 5 × 5 diallel analysis using calli derived from mature embryo cultures of Brassica napus L. in MS medium. Positive heterosis was noticed for all these characters. Variance component due to specific combining ability (dominance) were larger than general combining ability (additive) for each traits. High broad-sense (70.12 to 89.43) and low narrow-sense (3.49 to 23.01) heritability values suggested that dominance gene action was more important in the genetic control of the characters studied. Orakel, among the five pure lines, was found to have the best genetic background for callus growth rate.

Genetic model analysis on seedling and maturity traits in wheat under rainfed conditions

An experiment was conducted to access the genetic variability among early vigour and quantitative traits under limited moisture in F2 generation of a 5 × 5 diallel cross of bread wheat. The results indicated that there was significant genotypic variation among the genotypes. Additive dominance model revealed full fitness of the data for RL, DSW, FRW, DRW, spike length, and 1000-grain weight but was partially fit for SL, FSW, R/S, tillers per seedling, plant height, tillers per plant, spikelets per spike, and grain yield per plant. The partially adequate models for these plant characters might be due to the presence of non-allelic interaction, linkage, and non-independent distribution of the genes in the parents. Additive genes coupled with moderate to high narrow sense heritability were involved in the heritage of all the traits, which indicated a higher scope of selection in early generations.

Analysis of the genetic control of β-carotene and l-ascorbic acid accumulation in an orange-brownish wild cherry tomato accession

An additive-dominance, additive × additive (ADAA) and genotype × environment interaction mix model was used to study the genetic control of β-carotene and l-ascorbic acid in six basic generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2) of tomato derived from the cross CDP8779 accession (Solanum lycopersicum L.) × CDP4777 accession (S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The study was performed in two environments: (1) open field; (2) protected environment, consisting of hydroponic cultivation in a glasshouse. The results indicate that β-carotene accumulation was mainly additive (32.2% of the genetic component), with a small dominant component (4.2%) and an important additive × environment interaction contribution (63.6%). In target environments with moderate to high temperatures and no limiting radiation, this the expression additive × environment interaction could substantially enhance the β-carotene content. This trait showed also a high narrow-sense heritability (h 2 = 0.62). Ascorbic acid accumulation was also mainly additive (61.7% of the genetic component), with a minor additive epistatic component (21.5%). This epistatic effect caused a negative heterosis that reduced the positive main additive effect. Nevertheless, in the described target environments, the additive × environment interaction contribution (16.8%) may enhance the ascorbic acid content and compensate for the negative heterosis effect. The total narrow-sense heritability of this trait can be considered useful (h 2 = 0.52). In conclusion, the CDP4777 accession is a very interesting donor parent for the joint improvement of β-carotene (without diminishing lycopene content) and ascorbic acid content in commercial nutraceutical tomato breeding programmes; the F1 hybrids derived from this accession showed nearly 450% of the commonly reported average β-carotene content and close to 130% of the ascorbic acid content of the female parent.