CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN TOMATO

Abstract

The experinient was conducted with twenty one genotypes of tomato at the experi nenta! farm of Sher-e-Batigla Agricultural University. Dhaka during the period ofNoveniber 2013 - April 2014 to estimate the variability. herilabilib. correlation, path eoeliieient and genetic diversity among the genotypes. All the genotypes varied significantly, ith each other for all the studied characters indicating the presence of considerable variations among the genotypes. The Phenotypie Coefficient of Variation (PCV) values ere sliihtly higher than the respective Genotvpic Coefticieni of Variation (CCV) values for all the characters under study indicating that the characters were less in tluenced by the environment. l'lant height and number of fruits per plant showed Ii igh heritabi I its along with high genetic advance indicating them (0 he helpful in predicting the genetic gain under selection. Moderate heritability for primary branches per plant indicated Favorable intitience of environment rather than genotypes. Correlation analysis revealed that fruit yield per plant was highly significant and positively associated with secondary branches per plant and inintber of fruits per plant at both genotypie and phenotypic level. On the other hand. both genotypic and phenotypie level fruit yield per plant had highly significant and negative correlation with days to 50% flowering and days to maturih. Path analysis revealed that secondaiy branches per plant, number oF fruits per cluster. days to tirst llosvering, days to inaturils. fruits per plant, average fruit weight and fruit diameters had positive direct effects on yield per plant. Significant difference among the clusters was observcd through mullivariate analysis. clusters analysis and canorneal vector analysis. Based on D analysis the genotypes were grouped into live different eltisters. Clusters I bad the maximum seven and cluster V had the ni in imum it single genotype. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between Ill and V and the lowest distance was in between Ill and W. The highest and lowest intra-cluster distance was observed in III and V respectively. Genotypes included iii cluster II were important for secondary branches per plant, days to tirst flowering, fruit yield per plant whereas number of flowers per cluster. number of fruits per cluster and number of fruits per plant were remarkable Feature for cluster V. Considering the above tindings and other agronomie perfbrniances. the genotypes [3D- 7748. Local Jessore-3 and Local Kushtia-l. BD-7762. BD-7285. BAR! livbrid-4. BD-7290. BL)-90 II and BAR! Tomato-3 mitzht be considered as better parents for efficient hybrid izat ion progra in me in future.