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Knowledge on genetic architecture and inheritance of tomato shelf life contributing traits in different genetic backgrounds is a key issue for shelf life improvement. An investigation was undertaken to estimate the nature and magnitude of variability, traits inter-relationships, third and fourth degree statistics to unravel the genetics of 18 fruit quality and yield traits governing shelflife in F2 population of 'Arka Vikas' × 'Red ball' cross. The wider standardized range and higher estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation indicated prevalence of adequate variability for fruit quality and yield traits. Fruit firmness and pericarp thickness ranged from 1.20–3.44 kg/cm2 and 2.44–5.31 mm respectively. Pulp content and shelflife ranged from 58.59–94.70% and 10.60–26.40 days respectively. Significant positive correlation with direct effect on fruit shelf life was exhibited by fruit firmness, pericarp thickness, TSS, titratable acidity, pulp content, fruit length and locule number. Positive skewness with platykurtic distribution recorded for TSS, lycopene, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, fruit length, weight, pericarp thickness, plant height and number of branches. Negatively skewed with platykurtic distribution observed for pH, fruit diameter, firmness, pulp content, locule number, shelf life and number of clusters which signified duplicate epistasis of dominant genes in traits inheritance. The transgressive segregants for fruit quality traits indicated complementary effects of dispersed allele combinations between parents. Additive and dominance components could be exploited in the advanced segregating population by evaluating large number of families. In addition to additive effects, predominance of dominance effects of genes are important in inheritance of fruit quality traits governing shelflife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Shelf life contributing traits controlled by dominant genes with duplicate epistasis. • Dominance x dominance interaction larger than additive x additive, additive x dominance effects. • Dominance component is greater than additive component in tomato shelf life. • Additive & dominance with predominance of dominance gene effects are important in inheritance shelf life. • By considering above mentioned highlights, our study has good impact on tomato Shelf life improvement, therefore work is considered appropriate to publish in Scientia Horticulturae. Extending the shelf life of tomatoes is very essential for the reduction of great losses in quality and quantity. Knowledge of genetic architecture of the shelf life contributing traits and their inheritance pattern in different genetic backgrounds is a key issue for the development of high yielding and good shelf life cultivars. An investigation was undertaken to estimate the nature and magnitude of gene action for 18 fruit quality and yield traits governing shelf life through six generations (P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 , B 1 , and B 2) mean analysis in the F 1 , Arka Vikas × Red ball cross. Inadequacy of additive-dominance model in explaining the inheritance of fruit quality traits governing shelf life revealed the significance of joint-scaling test and presence of epistasis. The dominance x dominance interaction was larger than the additive x additive and additive x dominance effects and the dominance component was greater than the additive component. Duplicate epistasis played a greater role than complementary epistasis. Shelf life and its contributing traits such as TSS, lycopene, titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, fruit diameter, fruit firmness, locule number, and yield per plant are controlled by dominant genes with duplicate epistasis. Simple selection procedure in the early segregating generation for shelf life and its contributing traits is ineffective in improving genetic gain as dominance and dominance × dominance gene effects are non-fixable. The additive and dominance components successfully are exploited in the advanced segregating population by evaluating a large number of families. One to two cycles of bi-parental mating followed by intensive selection lead to dissipation of dominance and enhance the frequency of genes with increasing effects on the expression of fruit quality traits governing shelf life. Both additive and dominance with a predominance of dominance effects of genes are important in the inheritance of fruit quality traits governing shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]