Effect of seasonal variation on the performance of eggplant genotypes Solanum melongena L

Abstract

Eggplant, brinjal or aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) is a commercially and nutritionally important solanaceous vegetable crop grown widely throughout the year in all parts of the world. With prime objective of developing season/region specific hybrid, the present investigation was undertaken to obtain the information on the per se performance, heterosis, combining ability, nature of gene action and stability parameters for fruit yield, its components and quality traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) using 7 x 7 diallel (excluding reciprocal crosses) mating scheme. The findings revealed that sufficient genetic variability was present among the genotypes that provide ample scope for selection of promising genotypes under study. Rajendra Baigan-2 x BRBL-01 (1.70 kg/ plant) and BRBL-01 (1.48 kg/ plant) were high yielding hybrid and parent, respectively over the seasons on the basis of per se performance. While, Swarna Mani x BRBR-01 and Swarna Mani were superior hybrid and parent, respectively in quality traits. Swarna Mani x BRBL-01 (1.46 kg/ plant) was high yielding as well as rich in quality traits. Main season was congenial for yield but summer season was for quality traits.High standard heterosis for yield and quality was recorded in Rajendra Baigan-2 x BRBL-01 and Swarna Mani x BRBR-01, respectively. BRBL-01 and BRBL-04 were good general combiners in all seasons for yield traits and Swarna Mani for all biochemical traits. Rajendra Baigan-2 x Muktakeshi, Rajendra Baigan-2 x BRBL-01 and Muktakeshi x BRBL-01 were the best three cross combinations over the seasons for yield trait and Swarna Mani x BRBR-01 for total phenolics and antioxidant capacity on the basis of sca effects. newline