Combining ability and gene action studies for yield and yield contributing traits in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L . ) * 1

Eight diverse lines of tomato were crossed with three testers in line x tester mating fashion to study combining ability effects and gene action for yield and yield contributing traits. The analysis of variance revealed that the variance due to line x tester effects were highly significant for all the traits under study. The magnitude of sca variance was greater than gca variance suggesting the predominance of non additive gene acton for number of fruits per cluster and yield per plant. Based on gca effects of parents, the line LE-53, LE-64 and the tester Arka Alok were found to be good general combiners for most of the traits. The crosses EC-157568 x Arka Vikas, EC163611 x Arka Alok, LE62 x Arka Alok and LE-64 x Arka Vikas were found to be superior specific combinations on the basis of yield per plant performance.