Studies on Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.)

Eighteen genotypes of tomato were evaluated for yield and various yield attributing characters at Vegetable Breeding Station,Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India during rabi 2006 and 2007. The data were utilized to estimate the genetic variability in terms of mean, genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, heritability, expected genetic advance and expected genetic advance as per cent mean. The present investigation showed that phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits showing the influence of environmental effect. GCV estimates were high for average fruit weight, number of fruits plant-1 and yield plant-1. Heritability estimates were high for average fruit weight, plant height, number of branches plant-1 and number of fruits plant-1. In spite of high heritability values for most of the characters exhibited high expected genetic advance as per cent mean.