The research was conducted at Al-Jmmaseh station – the Agricultural Research Center in Tartous- to estimate heterosis, combining ability of yield and some fruit traits. Fifteen hybrids were produced by half diallel crossing method in 2013. These
were evaluated in 2014. Most hybrids were characterized by highly significant heterosis values for all the studied traits compared with mid parents and better parents. Heterosis reached (87.76, 50.13)% for yield per plant, (71.44, 43.09)% for average of fruit weight, (19.67, 12.31)% for fruit length, (38.21, 21.43)% for fruit diameter, and (32.5, 20.46)% for number of locules per fruit in comparison with mid parents and better parents respectively.
The best hybrids were: (Ou×H) (Ou×W) (Or×H) and maybe they could be promising hybrids if they had superiority in other important traits. Variance due to general and specific combining ability were highly significant for all traits. This ensured that both types of genetic action (additive and non-additive) controlled the inheritance of these traits. σ2GCA/σ2SCA ratio of the additive genetic action overcame the one of non-additive cation in these traits: number of locules per fruit, average of fruit weight and fruit diameter, while the non-additive genetic action was superior in fruit length and total yield.
