Correlation and path coefficient analysis of fruits yield and it’s attributing traits in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Abstract

The experiments were conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture Rewa, JNKVV, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) during Rabi season of 2010-11. Thirty nine indigenous tomato genotypes were studied for evaluation of correlation and path co-efficient analysis of fruits yield and it’s attributing traits in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Fruit yield had positive and significant correlation with average fruit weight, number of secondary branches plant-1, days to first flowering, days to fruit maturity, plant height, T.S.S., days to 50% flowering, and days to 50% fruit setting, it was observed that with increase in plant height, there was corresponding increase in number of primary branches plant-1, and number of flowering clusters plant-1. path coefficient analysis of different yield and yield contributing traits on fruit yield plant-1 revealed with average fruit weight plant-1, recorded high estimate of positive direct effect followed by number of fruit plant-1, number of fruiting cluster plant-1, days to first flowering days to fruit maturity, pericarp thickness, number of primary branches, number of flowers cluster-1and fruit diameter these characters play a major role in recombination breeding and suggested that direct selection based on these traits will be rewarded for crop improvement of tomato.