Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part T (2025)

Six different generations viz, P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁ and B₂ of four different crosses viz, Swarna Mani × NBL-147 (cross-I), Surati Ravaiya × NBL-50 (cross-II), NBL-50 × NBL-117 (cross-III) and Surati Ravaiya × NBL-117 (cross-IV) were evaluated during the Rabi 2023-24 using Compact Family Block Design (CFBD) to study heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and its attributing traits. The significant positive heterobeltiosis for the number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant was recorded in the cross I (Swarna Mani × NBL-147) and for fruit weight in the cross III (NBL-50 × NBL-117). The significant positive standard heterosis over the check GNRB-1 recorded for fruit weight, fruit girth and fruit yield per plant in the cross I (Swarna Mani × NBL-147), cross III (NBL-50 × NBL-117) and cross IV (Surati Ravaiya × NBL-117) it was highly significant for fruit weight and fruit girth while cross II (Surati Ravaiya × NBL-50) showed heterosis only for fruit weight. Therefore, heterosis breeding in Swarna Mani × NBL-147 would be a more practical approach to achieving higher fruit yields. Significant positive inbreeding depression was found in all the crosses for most yield and its attributing traits.