Heterosis and combining ability studies by line × tester analysis for fruit biochemical, morpho-physiological, and yield traits governing shelf life in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Improving tomatoes keeping quality is crucial for reducing post-harvest losses. Knowledge of heterosis, and combining ability a prerequisite breeding high yielding good shelf life heterotic hybrids. An investigation was undertaken with each 3 lines, testers, 9 hybrids to identify desirable parents crosses 20 fruit biochemical, morpho-physiological, yield traits elucidate the nature gene action its contributing through line × tester analysis. The lines contributed most variability than testers had higher degree SCA variance as compared GCA variance. pH, ascorbic acid, firmness, plant height governed by additive action. Lycopene, titratable acidity, TSS, calcium, magnesium, pericarp thickness, pulp content, locule number, length, diameter, weight, life, number branches, clusters, fruit/cluster, yield/plant were under control non-additive All Arka Saurabh best general combiners IIHR 2349 Vikas, Saurabh, 2358 Ahuti 2357 specific combiner in producing Vikas promising life. involved both high, one parent other low overall status respectively indicated additive, epistatic inheritance.