Genetic variability studies for qualitative and quantitative traits in tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.)

This study investigated the variability of 21 tomato genotypes, along with a check
variety Dhanshree, for various growth, yield, and quality parameters over two growing
seasons (Rabi 2021-22 and Rabi 2022-23) using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with
three replications. The findings revealed that phenotypic variation was generally greater than
genotypic variation for most traits. High heritability estimates were noted for plant height,
fruit weight, pericarp thickness, equatorial diameter, and number of the locules per fruit. The
study faced challenges in accurately differentiating genetic variation from environmental
influences due to the narrow genetic base of certain genotypes and fluctuating environmental
conditions during the seasons. Despite these challenges, the research successfully identified
key traits with high heritability and genetic variability. These results indicated that direct
selection based on these traits could effectively identify superior tomato genotypes, providing
valuable insights into genetic variability and heritability within the studied population.