Heterosis Studies for Growth and Flowering Characters in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

This study evaluated heterosis and selected genetic parameters for 14 quantitative traits in brinjal (eggplant). Eight lines and three testers were crossed in a line × tester design to produce 24 F1 hybrids, which were evaluated during the rabi and kharif seasons of 2022–23. The experiment was conducted at the College Farm, College of Horticulture, Jagudan, and the Fruit Research Station, Dehgam, using a randomised block design with three replications. Standard agronomic practices were followed, and observations were recorded from six selected plants per treatment across replications for plant height, plant spread, flowering and picking traits, fruit yield, phenolic content and related characters. Heterosis was expressed as the percentage increase or decrease relative to the better parent (heterobeltiosis) and the standard check (standard heterosis). For plant height at 90 DAT, several crosses exhibited positive heterosis, with L5 × T1 and L7 × T2 recording the highest pooled standard heterosis values. L5 × T1 also performed best for plant height at the last picking and showed consistently favourable heterosis for plant spread in both the E–W and N–S directions. Desirable negative heterosis for days to first flower initiation and days to first picking was recorded in L3 × T1, L2 × T1 and L5 × T1. L3 × T1 and L5 × T1 exhibited desirable positive heterosis for days to last picking. These crosses may be useful for improving growth and flowering traits in brinjal, subject to further evaluation for yield, quality and stability.