Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and quality attributes in heat tolerant exotic lines of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Genetic variability was investigated in twenty genotypes of tomato for yield and quality traits during Kharif, 2014 at Experimental Farm of Vegetable Research Station, ARI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The results of the study revealed that high PCV and GCV estimates were recorded for plant height, number of primary branches, number of clusters per plant, fruit set per cent, number of fruits per plant, number of fruit per cluster, fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, stomatal diffusive resistance, relative water content and chlorophyll content. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean indicates operation of additive gene action which was observed in characters plant height, root to shoot ratio, number of primary branches per plant, number of flowers per cluster, number of clusters per plant, fruit set (%), number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit width, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, number of locules per fruit, ascorbic acid, lycopene content, stomatal diffusive resistance, relative water content and chlorophyll content. Hence, directional selection for the above characters could be effective for desired genetic improvement.