Wide range of variation was observed among F2 popu lation for most of the characters except days to last picking. The character, fruit yield per plant showed maximum, whereas number of branches per plant recorded least, phenotypic and genotypic variance. For the characters, plant height, leaf area per plant, days to initiation of flowering, day to first picking and days to last picking the phenotypic variances were remarkably higher than the genotypic variance mainly due to the influence of environmental components. The magnitude of genotypic and phenotypic variances were closer to each other in case of number of branches per plant, length of fruit, breadth of fruit, weight of fruit and number of fruits per plant. This indicated that these characters showed desirably low sensitivity to environmental factors. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was highest for fruit yield per plant, breadth of fruit, weight of fruit and length of fruit, while it was minimum for plant height. As regard to genotypic coefficient of variation it was highest for fruit yield per plant, breadth of fruit, weight of fruit and length of fruit, while it was minimum for days to last picking. High heritability coupled with high genetic gain was noticed for fruit yield per plant and weight of fruit. High heritability values and high percentage of genetic advance were recorded in case of yield per plant, weight of fruit, length of fruit and breadth of fruit which indicated that there was more number of additive factors for these characters and further improvement in the yield could be brought about by selection based on phenotypic observations.
Brinjal, Genotypic, Phenotypic, Variability, Heritability, Genetic advance
