Elucidation of Nature of Gene Action and Estimation of Combining Ability Effects for Fruit Yield Improvement and Yield Attributing Traits in Brinjal Landraces

Abstract

Genetic progress in quantitative traits can be improved by understanding how genes interact and estimating the consequences of combining abilities. As a result, a randomized block design with three replications was used to conduct forty crossings using a line X tester mating design with ten lines and four testers. All of the qualities were shown to be highly variable based on the ANOVA (analysis of variance) results among lines, testers, and hybrids. An estimated predictability ratio showed a high prevalence of nonadditive gene action, which was further confirmed by the lower narrow-sense heritability values for all traits. Most of the characters had high general combining ability and specific combining ability estimates, showing the relevance of both additive and nonadditive gene effects, respectively. For all of these features, however, the specific combining ability variations were greater than the general combining ability variances. Since heterosis breeding can lead to better hybrids, it may be a good idea to do so. For most yield-related parameters, such as fruit diameter, fruit per plant, marketable fruit per plant, yield per plant, marketable yield per plant, and total yield, RKML-26 and RKML-34 were the best general combiners among all lines. So, these lines might be employed as parents in hybridization programme in future to get suitable recombinants for higher fruit yield. However, the best cross combinations for commercial hybrid exploitation were RKML-26 X Pusa purple cluster (PPC) and RKML-2 X Swarna Shyamli. These crosses exhibiting higher per se performance and desirable specific combining ability effects together with either both or at least one parent as a competent combiner would be rewarding for heterosis breeding. Combining traditional breeding methods with biotechnological approaches, according to a new study, is critical for the transfer of favorable genes (traits) into farmed plants.