CHARACTERIZATION AND DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF TOMATO (Solanurn lycopersicuni L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. during October 2011 to April 2012. Thirty genotypes of tomato (So/anton lycopersicum L.) were studied in the present study. The objectives of the study were characterization and diversity analysis of tomato to assess the magnitude of genetic divergence in genotypes, association among the characters and their contribution to yield. The analysis of variance indicated significantly higher amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters. Considering genetic parameters high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was observed for number of fruits per cluster (44.55), fruit weight (59.12) and fruit yield per plant (40.52) where as days to first flowering (0.75) and days to 50% flowering (2.48) showed low GCV. in all cases, phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variance. High heritability with low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed for days to first flowering (DFF), days to 50% flowering . plant height (PH), number of branches per plant (BPP), number of cluster per plant (NCP), number of fruits per plant (FPP), fruit length (FL) and fruit yield per plant (FYP) which indicated that non-additive gene effects were involved for the expression of these characters and selection for such traits might not be rewarding. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean were observed for number of fruits per cluster (FPC) and fruit weight (EW) indicating that there traits were under additive gene action and selection for genetic improvement for this trait would be effective. The results showed that fruit yield per plant had high positive and high significant relation with fruit weight and fruit length but high negative and significant relation with days to first flowering (l)FF) and number of clusters per plant (NCP). Days to first flowering (DFF). Days to 50% flowering. number of fruits per plant (FPP). fruit weight (FW) and fruit length (FL) had high positively direct effect on yield of tomato. So, these are found the important characters and could be used on direct selection for yield. Considering all the characters; 02 (1313-7260), 04 (80-7270). G (BD-7276). G6 (1313-7278). G15 (1313-7295), 022 (BO- 7762). G (BARI Tornato-3), G25 (BARI Tomato-). G (BARI Tomato-7), ("27 (EARl Tomato-9), 029 (BARI Tomato-14), and G (PUSA Rubi) can be selected for future breeding program.