Abstract
A set of 12 F1s developed by line × tester mating design were studied during 2008-2009 to investigate the nature and relative contribution of general combining ability, specific combing ability and simple correlation of selected tomato cultivars for yield and yield related traits in tomato. Data recorded for different traits (plant height, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, number of fruits per cluster, number of flowers per cluster, days to first picking, number of branches per plant, fruit setting percentage) showed that variability among crosses was mainly due to contribution of lines and line × tester interaction. Correlation studies showed that fruit yield per plant has strong positive correlation and significant values (p≤0.01) for branches per plant and fruit setting percentage while plant height has negative significant correlation for number of flowers per cluster. For specific combing ability, crosses CLN-2001 × BL-1175, BL-1173 × BL-1175, CLN-2001A × BL-1176 and cross BL-1173 × BL-1176 has shown good positive specific combining ability effects for fruit yield per plant while lines CLN-2001A and BL-1174 are good general combiners in term of fruit yield per plant while in males, BL-1176 and 17895 has shown good general combining ability for fruit yield per plant. So these lines may be used in a breeding program for local varieties development
