Abstract
With the increasing zeal for its cultivation, the farmers are aptly looking towards improved varieties to meet out the higher standards of quality and quantity. Among tomato cultivars, hybrids have really brought the revolution in tomato cultivation.
Abstract
Experiment was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur in springsummer season during 2016-17 to assess the yield and quality attributes of tomato hybrids under protected environment. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications, consisting of ten hybrids of tomato and one standard check.12-1 × Palam Pride and 12-1 × BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) are good performing hybrids for yield related characters taken under study.12-1 × Palam Pride had maximum fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per meter square, number of fruits per plant, plant height and minimum days taken to 50% flowering and first picking followed by 12-1 × BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape). For quality parameters BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Roma and BL 333-3 × Palam Pride were best. BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Roma had maximum pericarp thickness, TSS and also had higher ascorbic acid. Whereas BL 333-3 × Palam Pride had maximum ascorbic acid and higher titrable acidity.
Introduction
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) a member of Solanaceae family, is one of the most important vegetable crops grown widely all over the world. It is the most popular cultivated and versatile garden vegetable grown in the world . It is well adapted to wide range of soils and climates and is grown from the tropics to the temperate areas. Its fruits are used in different food preparations and also preserved in different forms. Ripe fresh tomato fruit is consumed as salad and also utilized in the preparation of processed products such as puree, paste, powder, ketchup, sauce, soup and canned whole fruits. Unripe green fruits are used for preparation of pickles and chutney. Tomatoes are important source of lycopene (an antioxidant), ascorbic acid and ß-carotene and valued for their colour and flavour. Lycopene is treasured for its anticancer attribute. excelled in yield, tolerance to diseases, high adaptability to adverse environment, uniformity of produce and greater plant vigour but also have shown great potential to counter the challenge of high demand of fresh and processed products. Although a huge number of high yielding hybrids of tomato varying widely in respect to their yield potential, adaptability and response to inputs have been released for cultivation in open fields (Kaddi et al., 2014) , yet the information on the performance of tomato hybrids under protected cultivation is meagre. Identification of hybrids suitable for protected cultivation, is therefore, most important. Hence, present investigation was conducted to study the comparative performance of to matohybrids for yield and quality characters under protected conditions.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted under a modified naturally ventilated polyhouse having 250 m 2 area at Experimental Farm of Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palmpur during springsummer season in 2016-17.
Materials and Methods
The experimental material used for the present study comprised of 10hybrids of tomato and one standard check. The details of the hybrids and standard check are presented in Table 1 .
Materials and Methods
Seeds of tomato hybrids were sown in plastic plug trays by using soilless media having cocopeat, perlite and vermiculite in the ratio of 3:1:1, respectively inside the growth chamber to get healthy and disease free seedlings. The seedlings were ready for transplanting after 35 days. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. The seedlings were transplanted at 70 × 30 cm spacing. Regular irrigation, earthing up, fertilization, stacking and crop protection measures were adopted as per package of practices.
Materials and Methods
The observations were recorded on five plants taken randomly for the characters viz., days to 50%flowering, days to first picking, number of fruits/plant, fruit yield/plant (kg), fruit yield (kg)/m 2 area, fruit shape index, pericarp thickness (mm), inter-nodal length (cm), plant height (cm), TSS (° brix), ascorbic acid (mg/100gm) and titrable acidity (%). For evaluation of quality parameters, ripe, firm and uniform tomatoes were taken. The data pertaining to the present investigation were statistical analyzed using the standard procedures of the Randomized Block Design (RBD) as described by Gomez and Gomez (1983) .
Results and Discussion
Earliness is a desirable attribute, as the early crop produce invariably and fetches a higher price in the market. The perusal of data (Table  2) revealed that days to 50 per cent flowering ranged from 21.67 to 30.67 days. T 6 took minimum days to reach 50 percent flowering which was statically at par with T 7. Three hybrids were significantly earlier to standard check hybrid ArkaRakshak. Sharma (2003) , Kumar et al., (2012) and Kayess et al., (2017) also observed most of the tomato hybrids earlier to the standard check. Days to first picking ranged from 67.54 to 87.40 days. T 6 took minimum days to first picking which was statically at par with T 7 and T 8. Two hybrids were significantly earlier to standard check hybrid ArkaRakshak. Chibi et al., (2015) and Dhyani et al., 2017 have also reported similar results.
Results and Discussion
Number of fruits per plant is the most important component trait which is directly related to increased fruit yield per plant. Comparison of the mean values revealed that the number of fruits per plant ranged from 25.06 to 39.56. T 6 has maximum number of fruits per plant which was statically at par with T 7 .Five hybrids produced significantly higher number of fruits per plant than the standard check. Earlier researchers (Islam et al., 2012; Marbhal et al., 2016; Kyess et al., 2017; Vijeth et al., 2018) have also reported majority of the hybrids surpassing the controls/standard check for total number of fruits per plant in their studies.
Results and Discussion
The ultimate goal of any research programme is to achieve maximization of marketable yield. This is also the key factor in adoption or rejection of a hybrid by the farmer. The fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per meter square ranged from 1.72 to 2.88kg and 10.32 to 17.28kg, respectively. Significantly maximum value for these traits was noticed in T 6. Three hybrids gave significantly higher fruit yield per plant as compared to the standard check. Sharma (2003) , Dhaliwal and Cheema (2011) , Kumar et al., (2012) , Cheema et al., (2013) , Dhyani et al., (2017) , Kayess et al., (2017) and Vijeth et al., (2018) have also reported that the hybrids excelling the control/standard check in total fruit/gross yield per plant.
Results and Discussion
Fruit shape index value ranged from 0.83 to 1.21. Five hybrids had significantly higher fruit shape index as compared to the standard check (ArkaRakshak). Six hybrids produced oval fruits (fruit shape index ≥ 1), three hybrids and standard check (ArkaRakshak) produced spherical fruits with fruit shape index ranging from 0.86 to 0.99.
Results and Discussion
Only one hybrid produced intermediate fruits with flat round shape (fruit shape index 0.71 to 0.85). Joshi et al., (2005) , Dhyani et al., (2017) and Kayess et al., (2017) have also observed number of hybrids surpassing the standard check for fruit shape index.
Results and Discussion
The improved shelf-life resulting from thicker pericarp helps in reducing post-harvest losses. Thicker pericarp also helps in long distance transport of tomatoes with minimal transportation injuries. Pericarp thickness ranged from 6.20 mm to 8.32 mm (Table 3) . The maximum pericarp thickness was recorded in T 10 which was statically at par with T 5 and T 9 . Three hybrids produced significantly higher pericarp thickness than the standard check. The present findings are in line with Makesh et al., (2003) , Chattopadhyay and Paul (2012) , Cheema et al., (2013) and Dhyani et al., (2017) .
Results and Discussion
Internodal length determines the height and number of nodes/plant. Plants having less inter-nodal length and more number of nodes have desired for getting higher yield. The internodal length ranged from 6.50 to 13.96cm. The minimum value for internodal length was noticed in standard check (ArkaRakshak) which was statistically at par with T 10 . Earlier researchers viz., Chaudhary and Malhotra (2001) and Dhyani et al., (2017) have also reported minimum internodal length in the standard check as compare to other hybrids. Indeterminate type of hybrids is preferred over semi-determinate and determinate types in high rainfall area under mid Himalayan conditions, where the fruiting period invariably coincides with heavy rainfall, causing huge losses to fruits due to fruit rot disease. Determinate and semideterminate types of genotypes experience more infestation of the disease than indeterminate varieties. Plant height (cm) ranged from 110.27 to 292.00. The maximum plant height was significantly noticed in T 10 and significantly minimum was in check (ArkaRakshak). The present findings are contrary to those of Kumar et al., (2012) could not report any of the hybrids in their studies which could surpass the standard check in plant height. Cheema et al., (2013) reported 4 out of 28 hybrids have significantly higher plant height as compared to the standard check Avtar (7711). While Fageria et al., (2001) and Kayess et al., (2017) reported about 20-40 per cent of the hybrids in their experiments exceeding the standard check variety in plant height.
Results and Discussion
The total content of soluble solids on fruits (TSS) is a key trait, as it influences final product flavor and consistency, and ultimately determines the final yield after processing. Table 3 depict that total soluble solids ranged from 4.44 to 5.26 o Brix. The mean performance for this trait was non-significant. Ascorbic acid is of much importance from nutrition point of view due to its antioxidant property. Bt-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Punjab Chhuhara T 10
Results and Discussion
Bt-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Roma Check ArkaRakshak Comparison of the mean values for ascorbic acid content among hybrids indicated that ascorbic acid content ranged from 21.54 to 26.52 mg/100g.T 3 had maximum value which was statically at par with T 2 , T 6 , T 10 and standard check. Makesh et al., (2003) , Anita et al., (2005) , Kumari and Sharma (2011) , Cheema et al., (2013) , and Vijeth et al., (2018) also find similar results.
Results and Discussion
Higher acidity is important for processing industry, while fruits with low acidity are preferred for fresh table use. Hence, fruits with both kinds carry value in the market. The titrable acidity ranged from 0.51 to 0.82 per cent. The maximum value for titrable acidity was noticed in T 4 which was statistically at par with T 2 and T 3. Eight hybrids had significantly higher titrable acidity than the standard check. Makesh et al., (2003) , Cheema et al., (2013) , and Vijeth et al., (2018) have also reported that the hybrid mean was more than the standard check.
Results and Discussion
Based upon the present study, it can be concluded that T 6 (12-1 × Palam Pride) andT 7 (12-1 × BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape))are good performing hybrids for yield related characters taken under study. T 6 (12-1 × Palam Pride) had maximum fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per meter square, number of fruits per plant, plant height and minimum days taken to 50% flowering and first picking followed by T 7 [12-1 × BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape)]. For quality parameters T 10 [BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Roma] and T 3 (BL 333-3 × Palam Pride) were best. T 10 [BT-20-3 (Yellow Egg Shape) × Roma] had maximum pericarp thickness, TSS and also had higher ascorbic acid. Whereas T 3 (BL 333-3 × Palam Pride) had maximum ascorbic acid and higher titrable acidity.

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