Study on correlation and path coefficient analysis among inter-specific crosses of Solanum lycopersicum L. and Solanum pimpinellifolium

Abstract

The tomato Solanum species which includes the cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum L., and more than 10 related wild species, belongs to the family Solanaceae. Varieties under Solanum lycopersicum L. are poor in adaptability and other characteristics due to their narrow genetic base. Solanum pimpinellifolium, a closely related species of Solanum lycopersicum L., harbours a number of quality traits and yield attributes not present in our cultivated tomatoes. Parents for the inter-specific hybridization with S. pimpinellifolium carried out during Rabi 2014-15 comprised of six tomato varieties of S. lycopersicum. The parents as well as the inter-specific hybrids were evaluated for fruit quality and yield attributes in the field condition during Rabi 2015-16. All the varieties were cross compatible with Solanum pimpinellifolium. Yield per plant was positively correlated with fruit length and fruit breadth. Path analysis at genotypic level revealed that harvest duration followed by primary branches, fruit weight, and number of fruits per cluster exhibited maximum direct effect on fruit yield per plant