Abstract
To exploit the genetic potential of cherry tomato, it is crucial to comprehend the inheritance pattern of qualitative and quantitative traits. Six genetic populations created from four crosses between pairs of cherry tomato and purple-fruited tomato genotypes were used to study the genetics of fruit colour and the nature of gene action for quantitative traits in cherry tomatoes. The study indicated purple fruit colour was dominant over red and yellow fruit colour in cherry tomatoes and was conditioned by mongenic dominant gene. Quantitative trait inheritance was governed by non-additive gene action and duplicate epistasis. It is advised to use the modified bulk selection strategy, in which selection is conducted only when homozygosity has been attained for the majority of the heterozygous loci. However, the ideal method for developing cherry tomato hybrids with purple-coloured fruit is to involve at least one purple-fruited parent in the cross.
Keywords:
Cherry tomato; fruit colour; gene action; inheritance pattern; quantitative traits