Variability of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Genotypes for Higher Yield and Yield Contributing Traits

Experiments were conducted with 25 tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) genotypes to study the field performance and genetic variability for yield and yield contributing characters in the field laboratory of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The design was laid out following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The duration of the experiment was started from October 2016 to April 2017. The analysis of variances showed a high degree of variation existed among the genotypes of the studied traits. The experiment showed the highest plant height and the minimum days required for flowering was World Champion (101.2cm). The highest number of primary branches (9.76 cm) and the highest number of fruits (30.48) recorded in Joint Hybrid. Early maturity found in genotype Binatomato-9 (110 days) and the highest yield obtained from Binatomato-8 (606.80g). Genetic analysis of yield contributing traits showed higher PCV than GCV that indicated the presence of environmental influence on varietal performance. In path coefficient analysis positive direct effects were found in the number of primary branches followed by days to 50% flowering, days to fruit maturity, number of fruits per plant and fruit diameter. Genotypes were classified into five clusters by Ward’s method where high yield, maximum days to fruit maturity and maximum days to first flowering were found in cluster IV, the highest plant height was found in cluster I, the highest fruit diameter was found in cluster III, minimum days to fruit maturity was found in cluster IV. In principal component analysis, the main four principal components accounted for around 78.02% of total variability. Based on the present findings, World Champion, Joint Hybrid and Binatomato-8 may be considered as the superior genotypes among twenty-five tomato genotypes.