1ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Regional Station, Mukteshwar, 263138, Nainital, Uttarakhand
2ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar (J&K), 190 007
3G.B.P.U.A. & T., Pantanagar, Uttarakhand
A set of 25 tomato genotypes belonging to different geographical regions were evaluated under polyhouse conditions in Kumaun hills of Uttarakhand during summer extended rabi 2014 to study the performance and genetic divergence for nine quantitative and five qualitative traits. The analysis of variance revealed that the most of genotypes exhibited significant differences for various traits as well as sufficient range of mean for all the characteristics, which is indicative of presence of sufficient variability in such traits, thus have a greater scope for selection of better genotype from the existing germplasm pool. The group constellation derived from Mahalanobis D2 analysis revealed considerable amount of genetic diversity among 25 genotypes of tomato for all the characteristics, which were pertaining to the growth, yield and quality. From the D2 statistics, the genotypes were grouped into 3 clusters irrespective of geographical diversity. The cluster I topped in having maximum of 16 genotypes followed by cluster II with 8 genotypes, while cluster III was solitary. Sufficient diversity between intra and inter cluster distance was observed. The high intra cluster distance (32.350) was recorded in cluster II comprising of 8 genotypes followed by cluster I (19.041) which were identified genetically divergent. Likewise, maximum inter cluster distance of 36.933 was noticed between cluster II and cluster III followed by cluster I and Cluster III (31.102), indicating the wide genetic diversity. Based on cluster mean performances, the cluster III with single genotype ranked first and appeared to contain the potential genotype in respect of fruit yield per plant and per hectare, fruit firmness, fruit acidity and ascorbic acid content which can be utilized in breeding programmes for enhancing the respective characters. However, cluster I with maximum number of genotypes only toped in cluster mean value for TSS content. Cluster II registered maximum cluster mean values for fruit diameter, average fruit weight, reducing sugar and total sugar content. Crossing between genotypes belonging to cluster II and III as well as cluster I and II and cluster III are expected to give maximum heterosis.
Genetic divergence, genotype, Cluster, Variability, Solanum lycopersicum
