Comparative Analysis of Heterosis, Inbreeding Depression and Its Component Traits for Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Tomato (solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a widely cultivated vegetable valued for its nutritional and economic significance, with strong potential for genetic improvement. Significant positive heterobeltiosis was observed in family DVRT 2 × IIHR 335 for seeds per fruit, total soluble sugars, and locules per fruit, in family ATL 17-06 × GAT 5 for fruit yield per plant, fruit weight, fruits per plant, total soluble sugars, and lycopene content and in family GAT 8 × ATL 18-04 and NTL 12-02 × GP 11 for total soluble sugars. Positive relative heterosis was recorded across all families for traits including locules per fruit, seeds per fruit, total soluble sugars, lycopene content, β-carotene, and branches per plant. Notably, the family DVRT 2 × IIHR 335 showed significant negative heterosis (–7.77%) and inbreeding depression (–7.21%) for days to flowering, indicating its potential for early flowering improvement. Family II demonstrated significant positive heterobeltiosis for yield-related traits governed by additive, dominance, and epistatic gene interactions.