Heterosis analysis in a full diallel cross of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for yield and quality traits
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops worldwide, valued for its nutritional and economic significance. Enhancing yield potential and fruit quality through hybrid development is a key objective in tomato breeding. The present study was conducted at Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh, India) during the summers of 2021 and 2022 to assess the mean performance and heterotic effects of tomato hybrids for yield and quality traits. Seven diverse genotypes were crossed in a full diallel fashion during summer 2021 to develop 42 F₁ hybrids. These hybrids, along with their parents and the standard check Solan Lalima, were evaluated in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications during summer 2022. The results indicated that parental lines Solan Lalima, UHF-T-52, UHF-T-50 and BT-18, as well as crosses Solan Lalima × UHF-T-52, Solan Lalima × UHF-T-50 and UHF-T-52 × Solan Lalima, were superior for yield and its contributing traits. The study highlights the potential of these promising hybrids for developing high-yielding, quality-oriented tomato cultivars. Future breeding programmes can utilise these hybrids as potential parents to introgress desirable alleles and enhance productivity and fruit quality in tomato improvement efforts.