Heterosis, Potence Ratio and Correlation of Vegetative, Yield and Quality Traits in Tomato Genotypes and their Performance under Arid Region

摘要

Background: The possibility of selecting the best genotypes to develop good hybrid varieties of tomatoes, as well as heterosis, potence ratio and correlation of vegetative characteristics, yield and quality in tomato genotypes and their performance under arid region.Methods: Four commercial tomato cultivars (Money Maker, Pakmore VF, Strain-B andTanshet Star) and two breeding lines (L05960 and TL01899) and their 15 F, hybrids, using a half-diallel cross, under arid conditions were used to estimate heterosis, potenceratio and correlation coefficients among all possible pairs of important tomato traits.Result: various degrees of dominance effects for some traits were detected in the general performances of the F1 hybrids, while, other traits illustrated the presence of partial- to under-recessiveness. Heterosis percentages reflected positive desirableeffects in ten F, hybrids for some traits. Most F, hybrids outperformed their respective parents for fruit set, fruit length, fruit diameter, total soluble solids, fruit dry weight, number of fruits per plant and total fruit yield per plant. Some of thegenotypes (i.e., parents and/ or hybrids) offer opportunities as a genetic source of heat tolerant breeding genetic material adapted to high temperature under the arid conditions reported in this study. Significant positive and desirable correlations were found between 41 possible pairs of traits, whereas significant negative and undesirable correlations were found between 13 possible pairs of the traits.