Genetic components of variation in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill.) is an important vegetable crop belongs to family solanaceae. It is well known and very popular vegetable among farmers and grown successfully throughout the world. It is used as vegetable and ripe fruits are also utilized into salad, soups, pickles, sauce, ketchups etc. Yield of tomato crop is primarily governed by the genetic makeup of the variety. Thus, full genetic potential of the variety can be utilized through recommended cultural practices. To develop the variety, existence of significant heritable variability is of prime importance. Some biometric techniques like variability, correlation and path analysis provide information about the relative contribution of various yield related traits. Genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients seek out the association between yield and yield contributing traits in tomato. Thus, these biometric techniques help in selection of superior plant genotypes for breeding programme.