Abstract

Five collections of Solanum namely: S. melongena (purple variety, SM-1), S. melongena (white variety, SM-2), S. gillo (variety, SG-3), S. gillo (variety, SG-4), and S. gillo (variety, SG-5), were crossed in all possible combinations and the hybrids evaluated for heterosis. The results revealed percentage pollen viability was 82.3, 83.3, 67.0, 42.5 and 64.5% respectively for SM-1, SM-2, SG-3, SG-4, and SG-5. The hybrids resulting from inter varietal crosses, SM-1 x SM-2; SM-2 x SM-1 (a reciprocal cross), and SG-4 x SG-5 had 65.90, 66.3, and 76.0% respectively; while the inter specific crosses SM-1 x SG-5, SG-4 x SM-2, and SM-2 x SG-5 had 21.2, 55.5, and 63.7% respectively. The highest percentage pollen viability was recorded in SM-1 and SM-2, the two collections of Solanum melongena; pollen viability was also high in their reciprocal hybrids. The highest value among the hybrids, was recorded for SG-4 x SG-5 (76%), a cross between two collections of Solanum gillo. The lowest values (21.2% and 55.5%) were obtained for the interspecific crosses SM-1 X SG-5 and SG-4 X SM-2 respectively. One way analysis of variance at p<.05 revealed significant differences across studied pollens of parents and F₁ Solanum accessions at p<0.000. The inter varietal cross SG-4 x SG-5 and the inter specific cross SG-4 x SM-2 with 22.5 and 2.0% heterosis effects respectively, possessed qualitative pollen traits and could enhance effective pollination, high seed and fruit sets in subsequent generations.

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