Assessments of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)
The study focused on evaluating 48 different tomato genotypes for 13 morphological traits to estimate the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance at the Horticulture Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology in Meerut, following randomized complete block design with three replications during two consecutive Rabi seasons (October 2022 and April 2024). The results of analysis of variance revealed that for all quantitative features included for both the season, analysis of variance indicated highly significant variations among genotypes. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 4.92% to 16.42% and 4.23%to12.93% respectively. Higher PCV compared to GCV observed for all traits revealed that the influence of environment on traits. High heritability estimates obtained for day to first fruit set, days to first fruit maturity, plant height, days to first fruit harvesting, days taken germination, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield(t/ha), fruit length, fruit yield (kg/plant), fruit yield (kg/plot), High Genetic Advance for number of primary branch, plant height, fruit length, days to first fruit set. High heritability coupled with High Genetic Advance Observed for day to first fruit set, plant height, days to first fruit set, fruit length. As yield is the most important dependent trait, day to first fruit set, plant height, days to first fruit set, fruit length can be selected as selection parameters for further crop improvement programs.