Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in Tomato

Abstract

Genetic variability studies provide the basic information on genetic properties of the population based on which breeding methods could be formulated for further improvement of the crop. Hence the variability, heritability and genetic advance were studied for fruit yield and its 14 component traits in 40 advance lines of tomato at Regional Research Station, Semiliguda, Koraput during kharif season, 2017. The results showed significant differences indicating the presence of high genetic variability among the genotypes. PCV and GCV were high for total chlorophyll content, total fruit yield and root volume. High degree of heritability estimates were obtained in case of total chlorophyll content, total fruit yield, root volume, pericarp thickness, plant height and number of fruits per plant. Genetic advance was highest for total chlorophyll content, number of fruit per plant and total fruit yield. Therefore, total chlorophyll content and number of fruits were the important components and could be utilized for achieving maximum fruit yield.