Characterization of Tomato Genotypes for Important Fruit Quality Traits

Abstract

An experiment was conducted using thirty-eight tomato genotypes to evaluate the performance of different morphological and biochemical traits and their genetic analysis. An analysis of variance showed a high level of variation among all genotypes. Chlorophyll content (1st leaf), number of seed/fruit, ascorbic acid content in red fruit, lycopene, and beta-carotene content in red fruit showed high heritability along with a high percentage of genetic advance, which indicates selection can improve these traits. Other traits show moderate heritability and a moderate GA%. For most characters, phenotypic coefficient variance is higher than genotypic coefficient variance, indicating the influence of the environment is greater than genetic influence. Red fruit weight shows a positive and significant correlation with yield/plant. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the soluble solid content of red fruit exocarp and endocarp had a direct positive effect on yield/plant. Principal component analysis showed six principal components contributing 77.45% of the total variability of different traits. Cluster analysis grouped 38 genotypes into five clusters, where clusters V and III had the maximum genotypes. The dendrogram showed cluster V had the highest amount of variation. Two-way cluster heat map showed five clusters for genotypes and two groups for variable. Mean performance showed genotype CL5915- 153 D4-3-6-0 has the highest yield/plant and the highest weight of red fruit; genotype TC0277 has high soluble solid content in endocarp of red fruit; and genotypes Bupribig and Homeastid were superior for ascorbic acid, lycopene and beta-carotene content, which can be considered superior genotypes having important fruit quality traits.