Genetic Parameters for Yield, Yield Attributing and Quality Characters in Tomato

Aims: Tomato is a major vegetable crop worldwide. For a successful breeding program, it requires sufficient genetic variability for selection. Estimation of the genetic variability present in thirty tomato genotypes was the aim of the study. Study Design: The study was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, during rabi 2023-24. Methodology: Observations on various parameters were recorded. The statistical analysis was performed for the mean data recorded on five randomly selected plants of each genotype from each replication. The statistical software used for analysis of data is WINDOSTAT 9.2. Results: Analysis of variance showed significant differences between the genotypes for all twenty-three characters studied. The high yielding genotypes were Azad T8, Arka Vikas, Arka Ahuti, Pant T-3 and Bhagyashree. The genotypes Utkal Kumari and Kashi Adarsh stood at the top for majority of the characters. The high GCV and PCV values for number of clusters per plant, number of leaves at 60 DAT, fruit weight, number of locules in fruit, number of primary branches per plant, titratable acidity, beta carotene, fruit shelf life and yield per plant indicated that sufficient variation was present in the genotypes studied. A high heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of mean was detected for a number of characters including plant height, fruit weight, fruit length, yield per plant which indicated that additive gene action is regulating their expression and they could be improved with simple selection. Conclusion: These findings provide insights for selecting superior genotypes and formulating effective breeding strategies for yield and quality improvement in tomato.