Heterotic potential, combining ability, and stability analysis for yield and quality attributes in eggplant (Solanum...

Brinjal is an essential solanaceous vegetable crop that can be cultivated globally in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite its economic significance, productivity is frequently limited by a narrow genetic base and by the under-exploitation of hybrid vigor. In order to determine superior hybrids with high yield and desirable quality traits suitable for tropical environments, the current study sought to assess the heterotic potential, combining ability, and stability of brinjal genotypes.

A total of 28 F₁ hybrids were produced by crossing eight parental genotypes in a half-diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. In Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, 36 genotypes along with their parents and the commercial check hybrid 'Kalpataru' were evaluated under three different sowing environments during 2019-2021 using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The growth, flowering, yield, and quality characteristics were all determined. Combining ability analysis was performed using Griffing's method II (fixed model). Heterosis was estimated over the better parent and standard check, and the stability parameters were analyzed following the Eberhart and Russell model.

All traits showed significant genotype variation, indicating a high level of genetic diversity. BL-2011-219-8-1 and SL-8-PB-1-3-1-4 showed superior general combining ability for a variety of yield and quality characteristics among the parents. With better specific combining ability and heterotic performance in all environments, the hybrid Pusa Purple Long × BL-219 had the highest fruit yield (548.02 q ha^-1). Pant Rituraj × S-324-465-2-2 and SL-8-PB-1-3-1-4 × Pant Rituraj were the two other hybrids that exhibited stable yield performance and high heterosis.

The findings indicate the involvement of both additive and non-additive gene actions in controlling brinjal yield and associated traits. The presence of additive effects suggests that selection-based breeding approaches may be effective for the improvement of certain traits in early or advanced generations, whereas the predominance of non-additive effects for some characteristics highlights the importance of heterosis breeding and hybrid development. In particular, the hybrid Pusa Purple Long × BL-219 exhibited high productivity and stability across three seasons, indicating its potential for commercial hybrid cultivation and its usefulness as a suitable parental combination in future breeding programs.