Variability and character association studies in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Mean performance, genetic variability parameters and character association of fourteen traits were estimated in 7 parents and twenty one hybrids of brinjal derived from seven half diallel cross combinations to identify suitable parents and F1s for brinjal cultivation. The study revealed that highly significant differences were observed for most of the traits. C₁₁ (2272.78 g) recorded highest marketable yield per plant followed by C₁₃ (2016.01 g) and C₂₁ (2152.33 g) were significantly superior to standard check for marketable yield per plant. Moderate estimates of phenotypic and genotypic co-efficient of variation was observed for fruit width, marketable yield per plant and fruit and shoot borer infestation on shoots both at genotypic and phenotypic level. The characters viz. marketable fruit yield per plant and fruit and shoot borer infestation on shoots recorded high magnitude of heritability coupled with genetic advance. Therefore, these traits should be kept in mind for better planning of improvement programme in brinjal. Correlation coefficients were estimated at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Total number of fruits per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit width, total yield per plant and plant height were positively and significantly correlated with marketable yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level which indicates the importance of these characters during selection for high yielding genotypes in egg plant.