Heterosis in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for Yield and Yield Component Traits

Estimates of heterosis for F1 hybrids over mid and better parent were computed for traits that showed significant differences between genotypes on analysis of variance. Heterosis for yield components and yield was studied using 8x8 half diallel cross in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The heterosis for yield was generally accompanied by heterosis for yield components. Heterosis for marketable fruit yield per plant ranged from (-63.4%) (P3xP8) to (33.8%) (P6xP8) and (-62.5%) (P3xP8) to (52.6%) (P5xP7), for mid parent and better parent respectively. Significant heterosis over better and mid-parent was observed for all the traits. Best parent and Mid-parent heterosis (MPH) was highest and in desirable direction for number of marketable fruit per plant (29.3%; 29.2%) in crosses ( P3xP6 for both ) and pericarp thickness (46.3%; 57.6%) in crosses (P2xP6 and P4xP8), number of fruit cluster per plant (32.8%; 35.9%) in cross (P3xP6 for both), individual fruit weight (36.1%; 41.2%) in cross (P2xP8, P3xP5) and fruit diameter (28.4%; 28.3%) in cross (P3xP5; P2xP6), fruit length (23.07%; 20.4%) in cross (P2xP6 for both). Out of 28 F1 crosses, positive and desirable heterosis by 10 crosses over better parent and 17 crosses over mid-parent were observed for total fruit density in tomato. An important heterosis both in heterobeltiosis and mid-parent was recorded in marketable fruit yield in ton per hectare. From all the crosses, seven crosses revealed positive from which three crosses are the most important P2xP7 (31%), P3xP5 (20%) and P3xP6 (54%) in better parent heterosis. Similarly for mid-parent heterosis, only ten crosses out of 28 reveled positive while the rest 18 crosses showed the undesirable direction for marketable fruit yield indicating majority of the hybrids exhibited unfavorable heterotic response and only a few hybrids could be considered for selection.