Studies on breeding tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) for tolerance to moisture stress

Abstract

Studies were carried out using seven F10, 9F2 populations and their 14 parents under intermittent moisture stress conditions during kharif season. F1’s as a group were superior to the parents for plant height, number of primary branches, number of flowers per cluster, percentage of fruiting clusters, root length, harvest index besides yield per plant. F2 as a group exceeded the parental means for yield and harvest index. The F2 of 554 x 707 exhibited the highest mean yield of 1.218 kg/plant. Eight parents, four F1’s and six F2’s exceeded Pusa Ruby for yield indicating the distinct possibility of replacing ‘Pusa Ruby’ with more efficient genotypes under moisture stress conditions. All the F2’s and five of the F1’s besides 10 of the parents exceeded Pusa Ruby for harvest index. Heterosis was observed in 2 F1’s and 4 F2’s for yield. Correlations differed between the different F2 populations, F1’s and parents. Number of fruiting clusters and number of primary and secondary branches were consistently correlated with yields. Plasticity inherent in the characters, number of branches and number of fruiting clusters, is through to have influenced yields under moisture stress. Semi-determinate growth habit was suggested as ideal for stress conditions. A scheme of recurrent selection was envisaged for further yield improvement under moisture stress, low input conditions