Studies on correlation and path analysis for yield and physico chemical traits in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)

The present investigation was planned and executed during spring and summer seasons 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 at Vegetable Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Main Campus, Chatha. It was observed that yield quintals per hectare was positively correlated with lycopene content, fruit pH, total soluble solid, pericarp thickness, number of locules per fruit, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and average fruit weight at genotypic as well as phenotypic level. However negative correlation was observed with beta-carotene, ascorbic acid and polygalacturonase activity at genotypic as well as phenotypic level. Path coefficient analysis indicated that fruit yield per plant had highest positive direct effect on yield quintals per hectare, followed by average fruit weight, number of locules per fruit, lycopene content per fruit and ascorbic acid, while as negative indirect effect on yield quintals per hectare.