Studies on Genetic Divergence and Variability For Certain Economic Characters in Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.)

Study on the genetic divergence was carried out to assess the variability, association, direct and indirect effects of eight morphological characters in thirty four eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes. High PCV and GCV were recorded by the characters viz., number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit breadth, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and fruit yield per plant. All the characters were accompanied by high heritability and high genetic advance excepting days to 50 per cent flowering. The characters were mostly controlled by additive gene action, hence it could be inferred that simple selection will be effective for these characters. The characters such as number of branches per plant, fruit breadth, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight exhibited positive and significant association with fruit yield per plant. Path analysis indicated that number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight had high directs the effects and were the major factors that determine fruit yield per plant.