Evaluation of cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and maintainer lines for yield and horticultural traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

The present study was aimed at evaluating six cytoplasmic
male sterile lines (A-lines) of Solanum melongena L. carrying
alloplasmic cytoplasm of S. aethiopicum L. along with their
fertile counterparts (B-lines) for various yield and
horticultural traits. A significant variability was observed
among the tested lines. All six cytoplasmic male sterile lines
were similar with respective maintainer for the growth traits
viz., plant height, plant spread, petiole length, leaf length
and leaf width. Five out of seven studied flower traits viz.,
calyx size, petal length, petal width, pistil length and pedicel
length, also displayed no difference between A- and B-lines.
However, significant differences were there between A and
B-lines for stamen size and days taken for 50% flowering
with sterile lines having significantly reduced stamen size
and taking more number of daysfor 50% flowering. The yield
contributing fruit traits including peduncle length, fruit
length, fruit weight, number of fruits plant-1 and yield plant-
1also displayed non-significant difference between A and
B-lines. Similar trend of no difference was displayed by the
commercially important colour traits. Theat par performance
of newly developed male sterile A-lines with their fertile
counterparts provides possibilitiesof further use of these
lines in cytoplasmic genetic male sterility system hybrid
development programme of brinjal.