Genetics of yield and related traits in brinjal Solanum melongena L

Abstract

newline The present investigation entitled Genetics of yield and related traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) was carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK HPKV Palampur to derive information on the extent of heterosis, combining ability, and gene effects for different horticultural and biochemical traits. The experimental material comprising of 20 cross combinations developed utilizing five parents viz., Res-1, Res-2, Hisar Shyamal, Arka Nidhi, and Arka Keshav, crossed in full diallel mating design were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications during kharif 2018. Generation mean analysis involving six generations viz., P1, P2, F1, F2, B1, and B2 of the four best hybrid combinations retrieved from the diallel analysis were evaluated during kharif 2019 in randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental results revealed that the Hisar Shyamal was the best general combiner for most of the yield and yield contributing traits. On the basis of per se performance, fruit shape, fruit color, specific combining ability and heterosis for yield and related traits, cross combinations viz., Res-2 × Res-1, Res-2 × Arka Nidhi, Hisar Shyamal × Res-1, and Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal were the most promising. The preponderance of non-additive gene action was observed for most of the traits indicated the usefulness of hybrids. Generation mean analysis of four crosses viz., Res-2 × Res-1, Res-2 × Arka Nidhi, Hisar Shyamal × Res-1, and Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal revealed the presence of duplicate type of epistasis for most of the yield and its contributing traits such as days to 50% flowering in Hisar Shyamal × Res-1 and Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal , days to first picking, pedicel length and fruit weight in Hisar Shyamal × Res-1 , harvest duration and fruit diameter in Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal , fruit length in Res-2 × Res-1 , Hisar Shyamal × Res-1 and Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal , number of marketable fruits