Study on Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance and Correlation among different characters in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The present investigation entitled “Studies on genetic variability in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)” was carried out at the UCOA, vegetable research farm, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda during rabi 2015-16 to evaluate tomato genotypes. The experiment was laid out in CRD with three replications. Total 20 genotypes including check cultivar were evaluated for horticultural Traits contributing yield and quality (suitable for processing) .There is a wide variability in different genotypes in tomato. Traits i.e. Number of primary branches per plant, Days to first fruit harvest, Plant height (cm),number of fruits per cluster, number fruits per plant, average fruit weight (gm), equatorial diameter of fruit (cm), polar diameter of fruit (cm), number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness (mm), fruit pH, Fruit TSS (0brix), days to last fruit harvest and average yield per plant (kg) were studied during the investigation Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all the characters under study during the investigation. High Phenotypic and Genotypic coefficient of variation were detected for characters like number of fruits per plant, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness and average yield per plant. High heritability coupled with genetic gain were recorded for number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of locules per fruit and average yield per plant. Therefore these characters also show some scope for improvement through selection. A highly significant and positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation were found in number of fruits per cluster, plant height, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight.