Genetic variability and interrelationship among different traits in F₃ progenies of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Ten F₃ tomato progenies of cross 87-2 X 18-1-1 were used to study the genetic components such as variability, correlation and coefficient analysis for growth, yield and quality attributes. Significant differences among the progenies were observed for all the traits under study. The high values of genotypic coefficient of variability and heritability estimates associated with greater values of genetic advance were observed for fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight, number of locules per fruit and height of plants. Correlation studies revealed that the economically important trait, yield per plant, showed highly significant positive correlation with harvesting duration and height of plants. The path coefficient analysis revealed that days to first harvest had highest positive direct effect on average fruit yield followed by average pericarp thickness, average number of locules, average fruit weight and height of plants. It is suggested that characters viz; minimum days to first fruit harvest, pericarp thickness, average fruit weight should be given priority for selecting high yielding genotypes.