Gene action in eggplant landraces and hybrids for yield and quality traits

Combining ability for yield and its components was studied in Line × Tester crosses involving 14 genotypes of eggplant. The analysis indicated a significant genotypic and environmental variation for all the 15 characters studied. Both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances showed significant interactions. The genotypes Palamedu Local (L₅), Alagarkovil Local (L₄), Melur Local (L₆) and Annamalai (T₁) were found to be good general combiners and crosses viz L₃× T₃ (Kariapatty Local × Punjab Sadabahar), L₈ × T ₁, (Nilakottai Local × Annamalai), L₄ × T ₁ (Alagarkovil Local × Annamalai)_{, L6 × T 2 (Melur Local × KKM 1), L7 × T 3 (Keerikai Local × Punjab Sadabahar) and L7 × T2 (Keerikai Local × KKM 1) have been identified as good specific combiners for fruit yield and other related traits. These hybrid combinations can be used for commercial exploitation of fruit yield in brinjal.}