Assessment of good combiners in tomato on basis of qualities of fruits against high temperature

Abstract

This study was conducted during summer season for estimation of good combiners on the basis of fruit qualities against high temperature. A breeding program was developed between nine parents by using half-diallel mating design in tomato and produced 36 F1 hybrids. Among the parents Riogrande, Suncherry, Superbug and H-24 exhibited good general combining ability (GCA) and high performance for fruit quality characters viz., pericarp thickness, number of locules per fruit, total soluble solids, lycopene content, self life of tomato fruits, ascorbic acid, and titrable acidity against high temperature. Out of 36 crosses the cross combinations Punjab Chhuhara x Suncherry, Punjab Chhuhara x Pusa Sadabahar, Superbug x Pusa Sadabahar, Pusa Sadabahar x IIHR-2201 and Suncherry x Superbug were high specific combining ability (SCA) estimates for high TSS, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, lycopene and shelf life of tomato fruits in high temperature. Highly significant parents and crosses indicated to both additive and non–additive gene action for both general and specific combining ability. Hence these combiners could be effectively utilized in tomato breeding program for developing high fruit quality of resistant/tolerant tomato varieties against high temperature and can be freely cultivated in summer season.