Combining ability and heterosis studies in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

The combining ability, magnitude of gene action and
heterosis for quantitative traits were assessed in brinjal using
six lines and three testers in L x T mating design. The estimate
of gca for lines and sca for hybrids represented that the
lines Sagoli Xingiya, Baromohiya, MLC-1 and the testers
SM-6-7 and Longai were best general combiners for most of
the traits whereas the hybrids Utsav x Longai, Dari Hariharka
x Longai, MLC-3 x SM-6-7, MLC-1 x JC-1, Baromohiya x SM-
6-7 and Sagoli Xingiya x JC-1 were the best specific
combiners for yield and yield contributing traits. The crosses
BM x JC-1, Utsav x Longai, MLC-1 x JC-1, BM x SM-6-7,
MLC-3 x SM-6-7 and MLC-3 x JC-1 had significant (good x
poor/ poor x good) sca effect for the traits fruit weight,
number of fruits per plants and yield per plant which resulted
from one good and one poor general combiner. The ratio of
gca and sca variance ranged from 0.04 to -1.44. The variance
due to sca was higher than gca for all the characters except
number of branches per plant indicating the preponderance
of non-additive gene action which can be utilized for the
development of hybrids. The study highlights the facts that
not always good combiner x good combiner gives cross
combinations with high sca effect, even cross combinations
with poor general combiners can be equally exploited for
crop improvement.