Determining of general combining ability for yield, quality and some other traits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) inbred lines

This research was carried out to investigate the genetic structure of the 30 F 1 hybrid tomato combinations established from 15 female lines and two male testers, and to determine parents showing superior general combining ability (GCA). The 47 genotypes (30 F 1 and 17 parents) were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a greenhouse at the Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute, Antalya, during the spring growing season. General combining ability was investigated for eight traits. The highest effect on GCA among lines had BH-135 for yield per plant and days to first flowering; BH-28 for early yield per plant and pH of fruit juice; BH-93 for days to first fruit ripening; G-8 for plant height and plant stem diameter at 60 days after transplantation and fruit weight. Non-additive genetic variance was predominant in controlling eight characters. Based on GCA, lines BH-4, BH-28, BH-37, BH-135, BH-53, BH-102, G-8 and Tester 2 can be recommended as potential lines for further hybrid breeding studies.