Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield related traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersium (L.)

Present study was undertaken to assess Genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for yield and yield attributing characters in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)., There were significant differences between genotypes for almost all characters. Considerable genetic variability was observed for the characters : plant height, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and yield per hectare. This indicated importance of these characters in selecting superior genotypes. High heritability estimates were observed for yield per plant (85 %), plant height (90%), number of fruits per plant (71 %), avaerage fruit weight (75 %) and days to 50 % flowering (71 %). High genetic advance as percent of mean were observed for yield per plant (48.61), plant height (30.96) ,number of fruits per plant (30.74), avaerage fruit weight (19.62) and days to 50 % flowering (19.72). High heritability combined with high genetic advance as a percentage of mean demonstrated the presence of additive gene action for the characters : plant height, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and yield per hectare, which may be exploited for yield improvement through phenotypic selection.