Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient studies in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) grown under protected condition

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) genotypes grown under protected condition at, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Saidapur farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during 2022-23. The present experiment was taken out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with fifteen treatments and three replications. The fifteen genotypes are namely, Punjab Red Cherry, SJCT-01, BRCT-1, Dharwad Local, Pusa Golden Cherry Tomato-2, Phule Jayshree, Red Cherry Tomato, CT-IET, Swarna Ratna, Namdhari-096, Zircconyta, Kaziranga Red Cherry Tomato, Black Cherry Tomato, Swarna Ratan and Pusa Cherry Tomato-1. These genotypes of cherry tomato were assessed to determine the nature and magnitude of variability and correlation between growth, yield and quality contributing characters. High genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV), heritability estimates, coupled with high genetic mean, were observed for number of flowers per cluster, ascorbic acid, fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per cluster, fruit yield per plot, fruit yield per hectare, individual fruit weight, number of flower clusters per plant, pericarp thickness, shelf life, number of fruits per plant and fruit set. Correlation coefficient genotypic and phenotypic level indicated that fruit yield per plant was significantly and positively associated with pericarp thickness, fruit length, fruit diameter, individual fruit weight and shelf life at genotypic and phenotypic level.