Evaluation of tomato genotypes for yield potential

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate F5 and F6 generations of tomato genotypes for yield potential during spring-summer 2009/10 and 2010/11. Crop yield is the most paramount aim in any crop production which is influenced among many factors by the type of tomato genotypes selected for production. Tomato genotypes of F5 and F6 generations of two crosses (M-3-1 x H-24 and 87- 2 x 18-1-1) and two standard checks (‘Bhagyashree’ and ‘Dhanashree’) were evaluated. Plant height was highest, 92.67 and 81.4 cm in T27(cross 87-2 x 18-1-1) in F5 and F6 generations respectively; number of branches per plant, 6.2 (T6, cross M-3-1 x H-24) in F5 and 5.33 (T32, cross 87-2 x 18- 1-1) in F6; days to first harvesting ranged from 66 (T9, cross M-3-1 x H-24) to 75.33 days in F5 and 71.33 to 80 days in F6; harvest duration, 62.67 to 69 days in F5 and 52 to 70 days in F6. Significant differences were observed in all yield and yield contributing characters in both generations. Maximum number of fruits per plant was 45.3 (T8, cross M-3-1 x H-24) in F5 and 50.13 (T25) in F6; average fruit weight, 74.55 and 77.24 g (T29, cross 87-2 x 18-1-1) in F5 and F6 progeny generations, respectively; fruit yield per plant, 1.94 kg (T26, cross 87-2 x 18-1-1) in F5 and 1.94 kg (T8 and T25) in F6 generation; yield, 56.56 t/ha (T26) in F5 and 57.35 t/ha (T25) in F6 generation. Per cent mean disease incidence of tomato leaf curl virus was 2.26 in F5 and 2.4 per cent in F6 progenies