Study on combining ability and gene action for yield and its attributes in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Genetical study on fruit yield per plant and its attributing traits along with quality traits like total soluble solids in brinjal were conducted by following line x tester mating design comprising of seven lines and three testers at Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The analysis of combing ability revealed the predominant role of both additive and non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of yield and component traits. The genotypes NSR-1, JBG-10-208 and Pant Rituraj, displayed high gca effect for fruit yield per plant and some desirable traits like days to 50 % flowering, days to first picking, fruit girth, fruit weight, numbers of primary branches per plant, plant spread and total soluble solids. The estimates of sca effect of the crosses indicated that five hybrids manifested significant and positive sca effect for fruit yield per plant. Out of these best three specific combinations were JBG-10-208 x GJB-2 followed by ABR-2-23 x GBL-1 and AB-09-1 x
GOB-1. The cross JBG-10-208 x GJB-2 was also found good specific combiner for plant height, fruit weight and fruit girth and number of primary branches per plant and also showed maximum per se performance. These hybrids may be exploited for obtaining transgressive segregants toward developing hybrid varieties in brinjal.