Genetic variability and heritability of various traits in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Five diverse cultivars of tomato namely KS-16, Azad T-3, Angoorlata, KS-29, KS-7 were crossed in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals, toi dentify the nature of various quantitative and qualitative traits for devising the suitable breeding methods for their improvement Highly significant variances were noted among parents versus F₁ for all the characters except for ascorbic acid content The mean performance of F₁s were higher than parents for all, the characters except for days to flowering, days to maturity, number of fruits per bunch, weight per fruit, fruit length, total number of fruits bearing branches, plant height and reducing sugar. Highest genotyplc coefficient of variation was observed for plant height followed by early yield, lycopene content number of fruit bearing branches and titrable acidity so, these characters may be improved through selection. The character like plant height which possess both high heritability along with high genetic advance is governed by additive gene action and selection will by rewarding for improvement of such trait. The characters, total number of fruit bearing branches, weight per fruit and days to maturity having high heritability and low genetic advance is governed by both additive and non additive gene action. So these characters could be improved by selection along with some other breeding methods. Other traits are governed by non additive gene action. The heritability Is being exhibited due to favourable influence of environment rather than genotype and selection for such trait will not be rewarding.