STUDIES ON COMBINING ABILITY IN STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA × ANANASSA). II. FRUIT LENGTH, FRUIT DIAMETER, FRUIT WEIGHT, ASCORBIC ACID, TOTAL SOLUBLE SOLIDS AND FRUIT YIELD

Abstract

A 10 × 10 complete diallel cross was carried out in strawberry (Frageria × ananassa Duch.). Significant general (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) effects were recorded for almost all characters. Variances due to gca exceeded the variances due to sca. Significant reciprocal effects were also observed. The cultivar 'Albritton' was the best general combiner for fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight and fruit yield; 'Redcoat' for ascorbic acid and 'Kalimpong Local' for total soluble solids. The best specific combinations for fruit length were 'Premier' × 'Torrey' in F1 and 'Swiss Seedling' × 'Cavalier' in F2. 'Redcoat' × 'Elista' in F1 and 'Premier' × 'Albritton' in F2 for fruit diameter and 'Phenomenal' × 'Swiss Seedling' in F1 and 'Torrey' × 'Albritton' in F1 and F2 were the best for fruit weight. Similarly 'Premier' × 'Kalimpong Local' in F1 and 'Phenomenal' × 'Cavalier' in F2 for ascorbic acid, 'Phenomenal' × 'Jeolikote Local' in F1 and 'Premier' × 'Kalimpong Local' in F2 for T.S.S. and 'Albritton' × 'Kalimpong Local' in F1 and 'Redcoat' × 'Elista' in F2 were best for fruit yield.