Browsing by Author "Welegama, H.M.V.T."

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    Analysis of combining ability and heterosis in tomato (solanum lycopersicum) using full diallel cross
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2015) Jayarathna, R.G.Y.H.; Alwis, L.M.H.R.; Fonseka, H.H.; Welegama, H.M.V.T.
    Tomato (Solanumlycopersicum) is the second most important vegetable crop next to potato. Tomato being one of the popular vegetable crops in Sri Lanka is preferred by farmers due to high economic returns, export potentials and nutritive value. Tomato is a rich source of vitamin A, C and minerals like Ca, P and Fe (Dhaliwalet al., 2003). Tomatoes are major contributors of antioxidants such as carotenoids (especially, lycopene and β-carotene), phenolics, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and small amounts of vitamin E in daily diets (Raiet al., 2012). In Sri Lanka, tomato is cultivated in more than 7137 ha, producing nearly 73917 t/year. (Department of Agriculture, 2010) The record lower yields are attributed to multiple of factors inclusive of elevated and frequent incidences of pest and diseases and inadequate accessibility to quality seeds (Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, 2011). Most improvement programmes of many crops use diallel analyses as they provide breeders information on the genetic value of varieties as parents and to assess the gene action which can be directed at improving yield and other related quantitative characters (Vianaet al., 2001). Therefore, an understanding of the genetic control of characters and role of non-allelic interaction is essential to the breeder when deciding of the selection method and breeding procedure to follow (Esmail, 2007). From diallel analysis, plant breeders are able to gather information on heterosis and effect due to maternal, General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) of parents in crosses (Glover et al., 2005). Materials and method Parents were obtained from the germplasm of the Plant Genetic Resource Centre (PGRC), Gannoruwa, Peradeniya.Seeds of the all possible crosses, reciprocals and Bhathiya were obtained from the Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute (HoRDI), Gannoruwa from the maha season 2013/2014.