Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Sixteen tomato genotypes were tested in order to quantify variability, heritability, and genetic progress in yield and yield contributing characteristics. The magnitude of the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than the size of the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits. High PCV, GCV, and Heritability were observed, along with high genetic advance as a percentage of mean for both fruit yield/plant (kg) and fruit yield (kg/plot), number of clusters/plants, plant height (cm), number of primary branches/plants, number of fruits/plants, locule number, average fruit weight (g), and number of flower/clusters. These estimates demonstrated high heritability (broad sense) values were high for all traits viz, number of cluster/plants, plant height (cm), average fruit weight (g), number of fruits per plant, fruit yield (kg/plot), fruit yield per plant (kg), days to 50% flowering, polar diameter (mm), days to first fruit setting, days to first flowering, fruit equatorial diameter (mm), number of primary branches per plant, days to first fruit harvest, locule number. Highest estimate of genetic advance was noted in plant height (cm) followed by number of clusters per plant.