Partial diallel in Physalis ixocarpa Brot. to improve fruit production

Abstract Tomate de cáscara (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) has great potential to generate hybrids and cultivars that present high yields. The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters using the REML/BLUP methodology and investigate selection strategies for F1 populations from a partial diallel, to increase fruit production. The crosses were carried out in 2020 and the evaluation of the parents and hybrids were carried out in 2021, using a randomized block design with three replications, and an experimental plot of 10 plants. Combining ability, heterosis, phenotypic correlations, correlation networks, path analysis, and selection indexes were estimated. Genetic variability was found for the descriptors fruit production, number of fruits per plant, fruit transverse axis, and soluble solids. Additive effects were predominant over non-additive ones. The 92V and 173V parents were recommended to increase fruit production and the number of fruits per plant, due to their general combining ability values. PI02 and PI05 were the hybrids with the highest heterosis estimates for fruit production and number of fruits per plant. The negative correlation between fruit production and soluble solids stood out in the correlation study and trail analysis, assisting in the strategy regarding the selection direction. The selection indexes selected the progenies: PI02, PI04, PI05, 92V and 173V.