Evidence of association among floral and fruit traits and its implication on fruit size and shape in tomato (solanum lycopersicum)

Abstract

The relationship and the magnitude of association among floral and fruit characters in tomato were investigated in this study. The mean value of fruit weight showed significant and positive correlation with all the floral traits with the exception of length of flower and style. The number of locules per fruit had the highest correlation value (r = 0.984**) with fruit size. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of locules per fruit has the highest positive direct effect (p = 0.8086**) on fruit size. This was closely followed by ovary diameter (p = 0.7942**) and stigma diameter (p = 0.7685**). On the other hand, style length had the highest negative direct effect (p = -0.9147**) on fruit size. The fruit shape index showed significant positive correlation with the ovary shape index (r = 0.835**) and the seed shape index (r = 0.718**). However, fruit shape index was negatively and significantly correlated with ovary diameter (r = -0.601*), fruit diameter (r = -0.576*) and the seed diameter (r = -0.519*). The association mapping using 25 SNPs markers detected 9 markers with significant association with mean fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of locule and fruit shape index. The SNP marker, Solyc11g039870 exhibited significant association with both fruit diameter, number of locules per fruit and fruit shape index. The variation in fruit diameter explained by the marker, Solyc11g039870 was higher than the variations in the number of locules per fruit and fruit shape index.