Combining ability analysis for growth, yield and quality traits of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicon (Mill.)Wettsd.) genotypes

Combining ability of thirteen lines for growth, yield and quality traits was conducted through a line × tester analysis. The analysis of variances mean sum of squares for combining ability revealed that the partitioning of variances due to lines × testers showed highly significant differences for all the characters except fruit length and pericarp thickness. Mean sum of squares due to lines were found highly significant for plant height followed by ascorbic acid, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, total fruit yield per plant, marketable fruit yield per plant and pericarp thickness. The estimate of variance of GCA and SCA and their ratio indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action for most of the traits. Based on the mean performance and gca effects, male parents H-86 and NDT-4 were found as good general combiner for fruit yield per plant and number of fruits per plant, while female parents Arka Ahuti, Arka Abha and Azad T-6 were better for fruit yield per plant.