GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES IN TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.)

Forty genotypes of tomato were evaluated for yield and various yield contributing characters. Estimates of genetic parameters revealed that genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were high for number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, number of seeds per fruit and plant height. High estimates of heritability along with high genetic gain were recorded for number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, number of seeds per fruit and plant height. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that fruit yield was positively and significantly associated with average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and pericarp thickness both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path analysis advocated that average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and pericarp thickness are the major yield contributing traits in tomato.