Assessment of Genetic Variability for Yield and Quality Traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess genetic parameters such as genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance as a percent of the mean. The research involved the evaluation of 34 tomato genotypes during the 2023–24 growing season at the Main Experiment Station, Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all 17 traits under observation. Among the  traits, phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) exceeded the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and highest phenotypic as well as genotypic coefficients of variation were observed in seven character i.e. lycopene content (41.96% and 41.76%) followed by fruit yield per plant (34.20% and 31.77%), fruit yield (q/ha) (33.34% and 31.04%), number of fruit per plant (31.19% and 28.86%), number of locule per fruit (28.09% and 27.39%), plant height (27.95% and 27.04%), pericarp thickness (25.24% and 24.39%). Very high estimates of heritability were recorded for fifteen characters i.e. lycopene content (99.02%) followed by TSS (96.79%), number of locule per fruit (95.08%), plant height (93.61%), pericarp thickness (93.35%), ascorbic acid (93.30%), titrable acidity (92.95%), etc. and combined with substantial genetic advance as a percent of the mean, were recorded for several traits including lycopene content (99.02% and 85.60%), total soluble solids – TSS (96.79% and 30.10%), number of locules per fruit (95.08% and 55.03%), plant height (93.61% and 53.90%), pericarp thickness (93.35% and 48.54%), ascorbic acid content (93.30% and 18.60%), titratable acidity (92.95% and 29.30%), etc. The occurrence of high heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance for these traits suggests that additive gene effects play a major role in their inheritance. We have to used Kashi Chayan as a check variety to compare our genotypes to find which genotypes performed better than the selected check variety, so as to make our selection easier. Consequently, these traits offer’s potential for effective improvement through simple phenotypic selection.