Genetic variability and character association in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.).

Genetic variability in terms of mean, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variances, heritability, expected genetic advance and expected genetic advance as per cent of mean, correlation and path coefficient were studied for yield/plant and its attributing traits in 27 genotypes. Considerable variation was observed in all the characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variance in all the characters. The genotypic coefficient of variation estimates were high for number of fruits/plant, mean fruit weight and yield/plant. Heritability estimates were high for length of fruits, number of fruits/plant, mean fruit weight and yield/plant. In spite of high heritability values for most traits, the expected genetic advance as percentage of mean ranged from 11.47 to 95.36. Genotypic correlation were higher in magnitude over phenotypic correlation. Most of the characters were positively correlated with yield except for days to 50% flowering. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of fruits/plant, mean weight of fruits and diameter of fruits had maximum direct effect at genotypic level and hence direct selection could be made for these characters for improving the yield, while maximum direct effect at phenotypic level was showed by number of fruits/cluster, plant height, number of fruits/plant, mean weight of fruits and diameter of fruit. The number of fruits/cluster showed maximum indirect positive effect on yield. Number of flowers/cluster, number of branches/plant, plant height and length of fruit had positive indirect effect towards yield/plant via number of fruits/plant and hence simultaneous selection for these characters can be made for the improvement of yield.