Diversity and association studies in various yield and quality traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted on twenty five diverse genotypes of tomato for yield and quality traits at the experimental farm of RHR&TS, Jachh, Kangra, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during the year 2018. Experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Character association studies revealed a positive and significant correlation coefficient of marketable fruit yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic level with fruit length, fruit breadth, average fruit weight, number of fruit clusters/plant, number of fruits/plant, number of locules/fruit, harvest duration, shelf life, pericarp thickness and total soluble solid whereas it was negatively and significantly correlated with incidence of buckeye rot. The results of path analysis at genotypic level revealed that average fruit weight, fruit length, number of locules/fruit, harvest duration, pericarp thickness, fruit breadth, total soluble solids and days to first fruit harvesting had positive and direct effects on marketable fruit yield per plant. The intra-cluster distance was recorded maximum in cluster IV and minimum in cluster V. The inter cluster distance was maximum to the tune of between cluster I and IV. The minimum inter cluster distance was observed for cluster I and V.