Quantitative Analysis of Yield-Contributing Traits in Tomato under Protected Cultivation Using Correlation and Path Coefficients

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide for its nutritional and economic value. However, yield is a complex trait influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors, making improvement through direct selection difficult. Protected cultivation offers a controlled environment that enhances productivity and fruit quality. Therefore, understanding the relationships among yield and its contributing traits using correlation and path coefficient analysis is essential for identifying key traits for effective tomato improvement. The evaluation of twenty-four tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes evaluated under protected conditions revealed substantial genetic variability, suggesting significant potential for yield enhancement through selection. The study conducted during 2018 to 2021 at SKUAST-Chatha, Jammu, identified EC 521038, IIHR 2042, and Arka Abha as the most promising genotypes based on superior fruit yield per plant.Correlation study indicated that yield of fruit wasstrongly and favorably associated with key reproductive and fruit-related traits, including fruit number per plant, flower number cluster-1, fruit size parameters, and fruit set (%), while delayed flowering showed a detrimental effect on yield performance. Path coefficient analysis clarified that fruit weight, fruit polar diameter, fruit set percentage, flower number cluster-1, fruit number per plant, and total soluble solids (TSS) exerted notable direct impact on yield. Moreover, the higher magnitude of genotypic correlations relative to phenotypic correlations suggested that these trait relationships were predominantly driven mostly by genetic factors with negligible environmental effects. Overall, the study underscores that effective yield improvement in tomato requires a combined focus on reproductive efficiency and fruit quality attributes, along with the selection and utilization of high-yielding genotypes for the development of improved cultivars under protected cultivation conditions.