Genetic variability in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes

Present experiment was conducted with 33 genotypes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) from public and private sectors grown in a randomized block design with three replications at G.B. Pant University of Ag. & Tech, Hill Campus Ranichauri, Uttarakhand in the temperate midhills of Himalayas. The results indicated that S-77, NTH-337 and Maharishi were promising genotypes for fruit yield per plant. Besides, S-77 and NTH-337 alongwith Solan Sagun were superior for number of fruits per plant whereas Neeladhari and ARTH-210 exhibited higher fruit weight. Existence of high genetic variance and coefficients of variation at genetic and phenotypic levels for number seeds per fruit, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant could provide more opportunity of improving these traits through direct selection. Based on heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, leaf area, fruit yield per plant, plant height and root/shoot ratio of the seedlings were assumed to be more responsive to the selection.