Correlation and Path Analysis Studies for Yield in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Correlation and path analysis were carried out in fourty-five tomato hybrids along with ten parents for yield. The association studies showed that fruit yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with average fruit weight. However, fruit yield per plant was negatively correlated with number of cluster per plant, length of fruits, total number of branches per plant, TSS and ascorbic acid content of fruit. Path analysis studies done to study the cause and effect relationship revealed that number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, number of locules per fruit and average fruit weight had high positive direct effects on fruit yield per plant. Hence, direct selection for these traits is done for improving fruit yield per plant.