Suren Limbu, Laxuman Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, Manju Rana and Sujata Upadhyay
Abstract
Organic farming is a sustainable approach in agriculture aimed at maintaining environment-friendly farming by relying on natural/organic inputs. The study aimed to investigate the genetic factors influencing yield in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) hybrids under organic cultivation conditions using the line x tester analysis. Four lines and four testers of eggplant were crossed in a line x tester mating scheme, resulting in 16 F1 hybrids. Heterosis and combining ability for yield and other growth parameters of the hybrids were studied for their yield and other traits. IIHR-563 x Arka Kusumkar (44.63%) and VR-2 x Rajendra Baigan (84.50%) exhibited the maximum heterosis percentage for yield per hectare over the better parent and the check variety (PPL), respectively. In respect to the earliness of the crop, 16 days were shortened in the cross of IIHR-562 x Swarna Mani over its better parent and 5.29 days in IIHR-562 x Mukta Keshi over PPL. IIHR- 562, Punjab Baigan 67, Mukta Keshi, and Rajendra Baigan were found to be ideal general combiners for the manifestation of earliness in the crop, and VR-2, Mukta Keshi, and Rajendra Baigan were good combiners for the increase in yield of the crop.The insights of the study can be utilized in optimizing breeding strategies for developing high-yielding eggplant hybrids under organic cultivation conditions.