Genetic Diversity of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Genotypes through D2 Analysis

Twenty four tomato genotypes were evaluated during June to September 2018 at Horticulture College and Research Institute, Periyakulam with an aid to estimate genetic diversity for 15 quantitative and qualitative characters. Using Mahalanobis D2 statistics method, the 24 genotypes were grouped into three clusters, indicating the presence of diversity among the genotypes for different traits. The cluster III containing 17 genotypes followed by cluster II and I comprises of four and three genotypes respectively (Table 5). The highest intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster III (60.00) and the maximum inter-cluster distance between cluster II and III (85.59), indicating the existence of wide genetic variability. On basis of cluster means for 15 different traits, cluster III recorded earlier flowering (18.35 days) and also registered the highest number of fruit per plant (24.53) and TSS (3.81º Brix). Cluster I recorded the highest fruit weight (57.98 g), plant height (95.98 cm), lycopene content (5.33 mg per 100 g) and ascorbic acid content (16.70 mg per 100 g). Cluster II registered maximum number of fruits per cluster (2.78) and yield per plant (1.29 kg) with high firmness of 5.43 lbf. Based on cluster mean analysis, the genotypes viz., PKM 1, ACC NO 65, ACC NO 71, EC 163599, EC 686543 and Arka Saurabh could be used in crop improvement programme in tomato for above-mentioned traits.