Assessment of genetic variability in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for yield and yield attributing traits

The genetic parameters were studied to elucidate the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic advance as per cent over mean in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Sixty diverse genotypes were evaluated during the year 2019-20 at experimental research farm of the Haweli campus, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, and Karnataka. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference among 60 genotypes for all 24 characters under study. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for majority of the characters studied indicating influence of the environment on the trait expression. High heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant spread (98.2% and 35.76%), equatorial diameter (95.40% and 42.68%), polar diameter (96.00% and 38.97%), pericarp thickness (66.10% and 35.27%), fruit color (79.80% and 37.70%), fruit pH (91.40% and 31.99), lycopene (75.90% and 60.388%), titrable acidity (74.50% and 44.38%), ascorbic acid (75.40% and 26.80), fruit firmness (94.30% and 26.24%), average fruit weight (94.30% and 72.04), number of fruits per plant (63.40% and 57.23%). High heritability combined with high genetic advance indicates that additive gene action plays a major role in governing these traits and these traits can be improved by simple selection.