Studies of Correlation and Path Coefficients for Tomato Yield and Quality Attributes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Fifteen genotypes of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with 18 yield contributing traits, were studied for correlations and path coefficients. The experiment has been done at Vegetable Research Farm of Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, during Rabi season of 2020-21. The experiment was laid under Randomized Block Design with three replications. Using genotypic correlation, it has been found that the fruit yield per plant significantly positively correlates with lycopene, titrable acidity, pericarp thickness, fruits per plant, ascorbic acid and days to 50% flowering. This indicates that the selection of these qualities will impact the number of fruits produced by each plant. Yield per plant was showed the significant positive direct effects with ascorbic acid, pericarp thickness, firmness, fruit yield per plant, TSS, locules per fruit, number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, lycopene content, seed test weight and days to 50% flowering at the genotypic path coefficient level that indicated the selection for these traits might be effective and there is a possibility of improving yield per plant through selection based on these characters. The investigation contains the necessary information to support the objectives, as shown by the residual influence at the genotypic (0.198) and phenotypic (0.206) routes.