Combining ability for yield and yield-related traits in Manjarigota type brinjal
(Solanum melongena L.)

Pratapsingh Suresh Khapte1, T.H. Singh, A.T. Sadashiva and K. Madhavi Reddy
Division of Vegetable Crops

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta
 Bangalore -560 089, India

Email: thsingh@iihr.ernet.in

ABSTRACT
Twenty one F1 crosses of Manjarigota type of brinjal in a line X tester (mating design) involving seven lines and

three testers were evaluated for general combining ability (GCA) of the parents and specific combining ability (SCA)
of the crosses for various quantitative characters. Combining ability analysis revealed that two lines viz, IIHR-574
(L3) and IIHR-575 (L4), and two testers, IIHR-438-2 (T1) and IIHR-500A (T2) were good general combiner for most
of the characters studied and, hence, can be used for further improvement of quantitative traits in Manjarigota type of
brinjal. Among the  21 F1  crosses evaluated, two crosses, L4xT2 and L3xT3, were found to be good specific combiners
for most  of the yield contributing traits, viz, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per
plant and plant height. Therefore, these cross-combinations can be commercially exploited for heterosis breeding to
isolate desirable genotypes of manjarigota type brinjal.

Key words:  Manjarigota, brinjal (egg plant) heterosis, combining ability, GCA, SCA

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 8(2):176-180, 2013

INTRODUCTION
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is an important

solanaceous vegetable crop of Indian origin showing a wide
variability for colour, size and shape of fruits. It is often
referred to as a poor man’s crop (Sharma et al, 2004). It is
one of the cosmopolitan and most popular vegetables, grown
in almost all parts of the country. It is cultivated in an area
of about 6.8 lakh hectares, with production of 118.96 lakh
tones and productivity of 17.5t per ha.  Among Brinjal
growing states in India, West Bengal ranks first in area (1.58
lakh ha) and, also, in production (28.70 lakh t) and productivity
(18.1 t/ha) (Anon., 2011).

Manjarigota type of brinjal is purple in colour, with
white stripes and is in great demand in Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Information on genetic make-up of Manjarigota type brinjal
is limited. Hence, considering its demand, an attempt was
made to estimate its combining ability for yield and yield
components. Selection of best parents for hybridization
needs to be based on complete genetic information and
estimated pre-potency of potential parents. With these points
in view, combining ability studies were undertaken which
are a prerequisite for any heterosis breeding programme.

These provide the desired information on exploitation of
heterosis to enhance productivity in any crop improvement
programme for commercial purposes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study was undertaken at Division of

Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
(IIHR), Hessaraghatta, Bangalore, during July 2010 – May
2011. The experimental field is located at an altitude of 890
meters above MSL, 13°58' N latitude and 78°E longitude.
The experimental material consisted of seven parental
lines, viz, IIHR-228 (L1), IIHR-569 (L2), IIHR-574 (L3),
IIHR-575 (L4), IIHR-587 (L5), IIHR-592 (L6), IIHR-570
(L7), and three testers, IIHR-438-2 (T1), IIHR-500A
(T2) and IIHR-571 (T3). Detailed information on lines
and testers used is presented in Annexure 1. Crossing
was done as per L X T mating design, and a total of 21
F1 crosses were obtained. Twenty one F1 hybrids and ten
parents were evaluated in Randomized Block Design, with
three replications. Package of practices for successful
cultivation of the crop was followed. Observations on five
randomly-selected plants were recorded for various traits.
Combining ability analysis was computed as per
Kempthrone (1957).

1Department of Vegetable Crops, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, India



177

Annexure 1. Salient features of parents and checks used in the present study

 S. No.  Parents Source Description
Line

1 (L1) IIHR-228 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are dwarf, spiny and highly branched; Fruits are round in shape; light purple and,
calyx, highly spiny

2 (L2) IIHR-569 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall; Fruits are round to oval in shape, medium purple in colour, with white
stripes

3 (L3) IIHR-574 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are medium-tall and bushy. Fruits are oval in shape and light purple in colour
4 (L4) IIHR-575 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall and bushy. Fruits are oval, with a flat base, dark purple in colour with

white strips.
5 (L5) IIHR-587 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall and bushy. Fruits are oval in shape, purple in colour, with white stripes
6 (L6) IIHR-592 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are medium-tall and bushy; Fruits are round in shape, and light purple in colour
7 (L7) IIHR-570 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall; Fruits are oval in shape, dark purple in colour, with white stripes

Tester
1 (T1) IIHR-438-2 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall; Fruits are oval to oblong in shape, dark purple in colour, with white

stripes
2 (T2) IIHR-500A IIHR, Bangalore Plants are tall. Fruits are oblong in shape, light purple in colour, with white stripes
3 (T3) IIHR-571 IIHR, Bangalore Plants are medium-tall. Fruits are round in shape, medium-purple in colour, with white

stripes
Check

1 Kalpataru Mahyco, Jalna Plants are tall; Fruits are round in shape, medium purple in colour, with white stripes
2 SuperMohini Mahyco, Jalna Plants are medium-tall. Fruits are round in shape, dark purple in colour, with white

stripes

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 Analysis of Variance (Table 1) indicated the mean

sum of squares due to the parents was significant for most
of the characters, except days to first flower opening and
number of primary branches (Table 1). Contribution of
parents and crosses to combining ability variance, variance
due to GCA of parents, SCA of crosses and the ratio of
GCA to SCA for all traits, is presented in Table 2. Results
revealed that SCA variance was higher compared to GCA
variance for all the characters studied, indicating an
involvement of non-additive genes in the inheritance of these
traits. Involvement of non-additive gene action for various
traits in the present investigation too is in consonance with
findings of Singh et al (2002). Contribution of lines, as
compared to testers, was found to be higher for all the
characters studied, except for days to first fruit harvest,
fruit length and number of primary branches. Line x Tester
contribution was found to be greater for all the characters,
except days to 50% flowering.

General combining ability

General combining ability (GCA) effects of lines and
testers for various characters are presented in Table 3. GCA
effects for days to first flower among lines and testers was

negatively significant only in the line, L3 (-1.19) and tester,
T1 (-0.79), in accordance with findings of Indiresh et al
(2005). For days to 50% flowering, the only line, L3 (-1.09)
and testers, T1 (-0.49) and T3 (-0.82), showed negatively
significant GCA effects. This indicates that L3, T3 and T1
were good general combiners. GCA effect for per cent fruit
set was highest in L4 (4.66), followed by L6 (1.62); among
the three testers, only tester T2 (2.63) showed a positively
significant GCA effect. For days to first fruit harvest, line
L3 (-3.76) and tester T3 (-2.47) showed negatively significant
GCA effects. For fruit length, GCA effect observed in L3
(0.54) and among testers T2 (0.51) showed a positive
significance. As for GCA effect for fruit diameter, two lines,
L3 (0.37), followed by L6 (0.36); and, among testers, none
was significant. These results confirm the findings of Rai
and Asati (2011) and Padmanabham and Jagadish (1996).

A positive and significant GCA for average fruit
weight was recorded in two lines, L3 (9.63), followed by L4
(5.52), while, none of the testers was a good general
combiner. For number of fruits per plant, two lines, namely
L4 (3.49) and L3 (1.60), recorded significant and positive
GCA effect; among the three testers, only tester T2 (0.84)
showed positively significant GCA effect. Highest positive
GCA effect was observed in L4 (0.32) and L3 (0.32), while,

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only one tester, T2 (0.18) showed positively significant GCA
effect for yield per plant. GCA effect for number of seeds
per fruit was negatively significant in L5 (-1.57) and L1
(-1.27) among the lines, while, in the testers, none was
significant. This indicates that number of seeds showed be
low in the fruit during its horticultural maturity (tender stage).
Highest positive GCA effect was observed in the lines L4
(5.38), followed by L6 (4.54) and L2 (1.84) for plant height,
while, none of the testers showed a positive significance
for this trait. For number of primary branches, line L6 (0.66),
followed by L3 (0.43) and L5 (0.40), and the tester, T1 (1.01),
showed positively significant GCA effect. Similar results
were also reported by Baig and Patil (2002).

Specific combing ability (SCA)

Specific combining ability effects of crosses for
various characters are presented in Table 4. Specific
combining ability of the crosses studied for days to first

flower opening revealed that none of the crosses were
negatively significant. For days to 50% flowering, the highest
negative SCA effect was found in the cross L7 x T1 (-1.39),
followed by L5 x T2 (-1.31). These crosses may be
considered suitable for exploitation of heterosis for earliness.
SCA effect for per cent fruit set was highest in the cross
L3 x T3 (9.61), followed by L6 x T1 (5.79). Negatively
significant SCA effect in the cross L1 x T3 (-6.96), followed
by L3 x T3 (-4.85), was seen for days to first fruit harvest.
For fruit length, the cross L4 x T2 (1.90) recorded high SCA
effect, followed by L6 x T2 (1.65); and, for fruit diameter,
the cross L6 x T2 (1.73), followed by L4 x T2 (1.50). These
results are in accordance with Das and Barua (2001).

SCA effect for average fruit weight was highest in
the cross L2 x T3 (23.15), followed by L7 x T1 (18.50). For
number of fruits per plant, the cross L6 x T3 (5.38) recorded
highest SCA effect, followed by L2 x T1 (3.79). Good specific

Table 1. Analysis of Variance (Mean sum of Squares) of parents and hybrids for various traits in brinjal
Source of variation Treatment Parent Cross Parents Vs Lines x Error

Crosses Testers
Degrees of Freedom 30 9 20 1 12 60
Days to first flower opening 8.01 5.41 9.27* 6.19 6.93 2.71
Days to 50% flowering 7.65** 5.04* 9.01** 3.92* 3.86* 0.84
% Fruit set 94.45** 26.93** 99.97** 591.59** 113.79** 3.81
Days to first fruit harvest 58.50** 53.70** 62.03** 31.15* 56.37** 7.16
Fruit length (cm) 4.36** 4.46** 4.27** 5.42** 5.69** 0.34
Fruit diameter (cm) 2.34** 1.83** 2.65** 0.68 3.83** 0.25
Average fruit weight (g) 693.80** 525.80** 692.68** 2230.41** 947.02** 46.00
Number of fruits per plant 40.32** 28.53** 39.12** 170.53** 42.05** 2.67
Yield per plant (kg) 0.41** 0.08* 0.45** 2.70** 0.38** 0.01
Average seed weight / fruit (g) 12.58* 8.70* 14.23* 14.65* 9.14* 2.07
Plant height (cm) 147.56** 210.56** 123.64** 59.15** 114.50** 2.29
Number of primary branches 3.97** 0.93 4.10** 28.59 2.77** 0.32
* Significant @ 5% level; ** Significant @ 1% level

Table 2. Variance of combining ability, their ratio and contribution of lines and testers in brinjal
Character Estimated  variance components Contribution Contribution Contribution of

of lines (%) of testers (%) lines × testers (%)
    GCA SCA GCA/SCA

Days to first flower opening 0.06 3.51 0.017 26.69 28.44 44.85
Days to 50% flowering 0.13 4.25 0.031 43.30 30.96 25.72
% Fruit set -0.35 32.69 -0.01 20.39 11.31 61.31
Days to first fruit harvest 0.14 26.63 0.005 17.63 27.84 54.52
Fruit length (cm) -0.03 1.29 -0.028 9.25 10.77 79.96
Fruit diameter (cm) -0.03 0.64 -0.046 9.80 3.57 86.62
Average fruit weight (g) -6.62 17.37 -0.262 14.90 3.06 82.03
Number of fruits per plant -0.07 10.01 -0.007 32.63 2.87 64.49
Yield per plant (kg) 0.001 0.15 0.006 37.96 11.42 50.60
Average seed weight / fruit (g) 0.13 3.30 0.039 59.71 1.71 38.56
Plant height (cm) 0.23 32.08 0.007 43.81 0.62 55.56
Number of primary branches 0.03 2.27 0.014 17.17 42.24 40.58
GCA: General Combining Ability; SCA: Specific Combining Ability

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Table 3. Estimates of general combining ability (GCA) effect of parents (Lines and Testers) for different traits in brinjal
Parent Days to Days % Fruit Days Fruit Fruit Average Number Yield Number Plant No. of

first to 50% set to first length diameter fruit of fruits per of seeds height primary
flower flowering fruit (cm) (cm) weight per plant per (cm) branches

opening harvest (g) plant (kg) fruit (g)
Lines

L1 0.55 0.79* -3.57** -0.31 -0.66** -0.10 -3.03 -2.95** -0.26** -1.27* -5.02** -0.37
L2 -0.50 -0.98** -1.18 1.68 0.07 -0.10 -6.92** -2.17** -0.28** 1.98** 1.84** -0.63**
L3 -1.19* -1.09** -2.37** -3.76** 0.54** 0.37* 9.63** 1.60** 0.32** 2.33** -1.38** 0.43*
L4 1.60** 1.79** 4.66** 2.12* -0.00 -0.12 5.52* 3.49** 0.32** -0.51 5.38** -0.48*
L5 0.58 1.12** 1.02 1.01 -0.13 0.09 -0.03 0.26 0.05 -1.57** -6.26** 0.40*
L6 -0.68 -0.98** 1.62* 0.46 0.01 0.36* -6.80** 0.04 -0.11** 2.04* 4.54** 0.66**
L7 -0.35 -0.65* -0.18 -1.20 0.33 -0.50** 1.63 -0.28 -0.03 0.96 0.91 -0.00
SEm± 0.54 0.30 0.65 0.89 0.19 0.16 2.26 0.54 0.03 0.48 0.50 0.18

Testers
T 1 -0.79* -0.49* -0.88* -0.66 -0.10 -0.23* -3.61* -0.34 -0.09** 0.24 0.24 1.01**
T 2 1.28** 1.31** 2.63** 3.14** 0.51** 0.17 2.33 0.84** 0.18** 0.13 0.44 -0.29*
T 3 -0.48 -0.82** -1.74 -2.47** -0.40** 0.06 1.28 -0.49 -0.09** -0.38 -0.68** -0.72**
SEm± 0.35 0.20 0.42 0.58 0.12 0.10 1.48 0.35 0.02 0.31 0.33 0.12
* Significant @ 5% level; ** Significant @ 1% level

Table 4.  Estimates of specific combining ability (SCA) effect of crosses for various traits in brinjal
Cross Days to Days % Fruit Days Fruit Fruit Average Number Yield Number Plant No. of

first to 50% set to first length diameter fruit of fruits per of seeds height primary
flower flowering fruit (cm) (cm) weight per plant per (cm) branches

opening harvest (g) plant (kg) fruit (g)
L1 x T1 2.26* 0.49 -3.02** 5.88** 0.08 -0.34 0.50 -0.09 0.02 -0.19 -3.79** -1.24**
L1 x T2 -1.54 0.01 5.69 1.07 -0.80 -0.70* 8.88* -2.61** -0.10 -1.91* 0.16 0.85*
L1 x T3 -0.71 -0.50 -2.67* -6.96** 0.71 1.04** -9.39* 2.71** 0.07 2.11* 3.63** 0.38
L2 x T1 0.12 -0.73 -2.10 -3.11* 1.15** 0.75* -13.26** 3.79** 0.09 1.18 -4.72** 1.57**
L2 x T2 0.78 1.46** -2.77* 1.07 -1.06** -0.27 -9.88* 0.26 -0.17* -0.37 0.95 -1.11**
L2 x T3 -0.91 -0.73 4.87** 2.03 -0.09 -0.47 23.15** -4.06** 0.08 -0.81 3.76** -0.46
L3 x T1 -1.11 -0.28 -1.70 -0.66 -0.51 -0.50 -11.49** -0.31 -0.19 1.29 0.05 -0.95**
L3 x T2 2.00* 1.23* -7.91** 5.52** -0.90** -0.72* 7.88* 3.15** 0.35** 1.27 -5.48** 1.37**
L3 x T3 -0.88 -0.95 9.61** -4.85** 1.41** 1.23** 3.60** -2.84** -0.16* -2.56** 5.43** -0.41
L4 x T1 0.88 0.49 3.68* -0.88 -0.12 -0.26 -27.38** 0.79 -0.41** 0.58 -4.15** 0.20
L4 x T2 -0.39 -0.31 -0.05 -3.69* 1.90** 1.50** 13.00** 3.26** 0.66** -1.07 11.59** -0.03
L4 x T3 -0.48 -0.17 -3.62** 4.58** -1.77** -1.24** 14.38** -4.06** -0.25** 0.48 -7.44** -0.16
L5 x T1 0.10 1.15* -6.63** -1.44 0.006 0.37 20.17** -0.98 0.23** -0.62 1.39 0.20
L5 x T2 0.02 -1.31* 3.44** 0.41 0.68* -0.71* -3.77 -2.17* -0.25** 0.21 0.62 -0.70*
L5 x T3 -0.13 0.15 3.18** 1.03 -0.69 0.34 -16.39** 3.15** 0.02 0.41 -2.01* 0.50
L6 x T1 -0.42 0.26 5.79** 1.44 -0.69* -0.53 12.95** -5.09** -0.18** -2.91** 8.13** 0.50
L6 x T2 -1.43 -0.87 1.27 -4.36** 1.65** 1.73** -4.33 -0.28 -0.15* 1.82* -5.74** -0.07
L6 x T3 1.86 0.60 -7.06** 2.92 -0.95** -1.19** -8.61* 5.38** 0.34** 1.08 -2.38** -0.42
L7 x T1 -1.82 -1.39* 3.98** -1.22 0.08 0.52 18.50** 1.90* 0.43** 0.67 3.09** -0.28
L7 x T2 0.56 -0.20 0.33 -0.03 -1.47** -0.82** -11.77** -1.61 -0.33** 0.04 -2.11* -0.29
L7 x T3 1.26 1.60** -4.32** 1.25 1.38** 0.30 -6.70 -0.28 -0.10 -0.72 -0.97 0.57
SEm± 0.95 0.52 1.12 1.54 0.34 0.28 3.91 0.94 0.06 0.83 0.87 0.32
* Significant @ 5% level; ** Significant @ 1% level

combiner for yield per plant turned out to be the cross L4 x
T2 (0.66), followed by L7 x T1 (0.43). A negatively significant
SCA effect was recorded in the cross L6 x T1 (-2.91),
followed by L3 x T3 (-2.56) for number of seeds per fruit.
For plant height, the highest significant SCA effect was
noticed in the cross L4 x T2 (11.59), followed by L6 x T1
(8.13). SCA effect for number of primary branches was

highest in the cross L2 x T1 (1.57), followed by L3 x T2
(1.37). These results are in conformity with findings of
Dharwad et al, (2011).

The lines L3 and L4, and the testers T1 and T2 were
good general combiners for most of the traits studied, and
these may be exploited in further breeding programmes.

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Among the crosses, L4 x T2 and L3 x T3 were good specific
combiners for most of the yield attributing traits, and can be
exploited for heterosis breeding and further subjected to
selection to isolate desirable genotypes in Manjarigota type
brinjal.

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J. Hortl. Sci.
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Pratapsingh Suresh Khapte et al

(MS Received 11 July 2012, Revised 16 August 2013, Accepted 11 September 2013)