Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield attributing traits in eggplant

An experiments was performed to study heterobeltiosis and relative heterosis in F-1 and inbreeding depression in F-2 generation in eggplants. A set of four F-1 hybrids were generated by crossing six parents. In all crosses (Doli 5 x GBL1, Doli 5 x KS 331, Pusa Uttam x KS 331, AB-07-02 x GOB 1), fruit length, fruit volume and fruit yield per plant exhibited significantly positive heterobeltiosis which indicates that the hybrid vigor can be utilized on commercial scale for these traits. The higher magnitude of heterobeltiosis for all the morphological traits suggested the presence of over-dominance. In F-2 generation, negatively significant estimates of inbreeding depression was observed for plant height and days to first picking in cross Doli 5 x KS 331; fruit per plant, fruit weight and fruit yield per plant in cross Pusa Uttam x KS 331; primary branches per plant, fruit volume and fruit weight in cross Doli 5 x GBL1 and fruit weight in cross (AB-07-02 x GOB 1) indicated the possibilities to get the desired segregants to improve the traits. The cross with least inbreeding depression and high heterosis should be further exploited at commercial scales.