Analysis of combining ability and heterosis in tomato (solanum lycopersicum) using full diallel cross
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Date
2015
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Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Agriculture, Export Agriculture, Crop Production, Vegetable Cultivation, Food Technology