Incorporation of resistance to bacterial wilt in indeterminate tomotoes

Abstract

Investigations on "Incorporation of resistance to bacterial wilt in indeterminate tomatoes" was carried out during July 2002 - September 2003 at the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. The salient findings are mentioned below: Three bacterial wilt resistant varieties (Sakthi, Mukthi and Anagha) were crossed with four indeterminate genotypes (BT 118-4-1-1, Sun 7611, TH 977 and Nidhi) in a line x tester fashion to produce twelve F 1 hybrids. The F 1 hybrids were found to be susceptible to bacterial wilt. All the hybrids except Sakthi x BT 118-4-1-1 were indeterminate in growth habit. The general combining ability of the parents and specific combining ability of the crosses were estimated. Anagha was a good general combiner for earliness in flowering, fruit set and harvest. BT 118-4-1-1 was a good general combiner for fruit yield per plant, fruits per plant and average fruit weight. Mukthi x Nidhi was the best specific combiner for fruit yield per plant. Sakthi x Nidhi was a good specific combiner for fruits per plant and Mukthi x TH 977 was a good specific combiner for average fruit weight. The relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis for different biometric characters were estimated. Sakthi x BT 118-4-1-1 was the best F 1 hybrid for fruit yield per plant (422.5 g plant") and average fruit weight (53.15 g). Mukthi x BT 118-4-1-1 was the best hybrid for fruits per plant (12.10). The F2 segregants were evaluated for bacterial wilt resistance and growth habit. There were 42 indeterminate F2 segregants resistant to bacterial wilt. Among these Anagha x BT 118-4-1-1 F2-13 was the earliest to harvest. Maximum fruit yield was obtained in the F2 segregant Mukthi x BT 118-4-1-1 F2-B. These indeterminate F2 segregants were selected for further improvement.