Evaluation of combiners for resistance to early blight disease using interspecific crosses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

The study was undertaken by using nine genetically diverse tomato (Solanum lycopersiam L.) genotypes wherein five susceptible cultivars, viz. CO-3, Punjab Chhuhara (PBC), DT-10, Sel-7 and DVRT-2, were crossed by four resistant accessions of wilds species, viz. S. habrochaites (EC-520061 and H-88-78-1), S. glandulosum (WIR-3928) and S. pimpinellifolium (EC-521080) to determine the best general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) combiners for resistance to early blight disease, yield and quality traits in tomato. All the 20 hybrids along with their parents showed both additive and non-additive gene interaction for GCA and SCA variances. Based on GCA estimates it was identified that the best general combiners, for (EC-520061, Sel-7, PBC and CO-3) PDI, PH, NPB and NFPP; for AFW and FYPP for (H-88-78-1, DT-10, CO-3 and WIR-3928); (EC-520061, DVRT-2, EC-521080, Sel-7, WIR-3928). for TSS, AA, LP and TP. The best specific combiners were Sel-7 × H-88-78-1 for PDI; DVRT-2 × WIR-3928, DT-10 × EC-520061, CO-3 × WIR-3928, DT-10 × H-88-78-1 and CO-3 × WIR-3928 for PH, NPB, NFPP, AFW and FYPP and Sel-7 × WIR-3928, Sel-7 × EC-521080, DT-10 × EC-521080 and PBC × EC-520061 for TSS, AA, LP and TP, respectively. These best combiner parents and crosses could be utilized in further resistance breeding programme.