Variability, heritability and genetic advance in tomato genotypes

The present study was undertaken to explore the characters highly responsible for yield of tomato. Genotypic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing characters were studied for 18 tomato genotypes and data were recorded on plant height at maturity, number of branches per plant, days to 50 percent flowering, number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of locule per fruit and fruit yield per plant. The experimental results revealed that the phenotypic variation was high as compared to genotypic variation for all the traits studied and maximum for yield per plant, average fruit weight and plant height. High PCV, GCV and genetic advance was observed for yield per plant, number of fruits per plant and number of locules per fruit indicating the additive genetic effect. Phenotypic selection for their improvement could be achieved by simple selection.