Combining ability studies in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

General and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA) were estimated using ten lines of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and four testers and their F1 hybrids, bred in line × tester fashion. The results indicated in general, that a particular cultivar or hybrid cannot be used to evaluate all studied characters with equal efficiency. Line, LBR-12 was found good general combiner for total fruit yield, pericarp thickness polar equitorial (P/E) ratio, dry matter, TSS and lycopene content; LBR-13 for pericarp thickness, dry matter, lycopene content, titratable acidity and carotenoides; LBR-19 for fruit yield, pericarp thickness, lycopene content and titratable acidity. Similarly tester, 8-2-1-2-5 was found to be good combiner for average fruit weight, total fruit yield, number of locules per fruit and lycopene content; tester EC-119197 for average fruit weight, P/E ratio, TSS and carotenoides. The obtained results further illustrated that the best hybrid combination that exhibited highest positive values of SCA can combine to produce a hybrid with good general performance. F1 hybrids from cross combinations, LBR-7 × 8-2-1-2-5 were recorded with good specific combiner for average fruit weight, P/E ratio, lycopene and carotenoides; LBR-15 × EC-119197 for total fruit yield, locules per fruit, P/E ratio; LBR-13 × EC-119197 for average fruit weight, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness, P/E ratio, dry matter, titratable acidity and carotenoides.