Estimation of Genetic Divergence in Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Genotypes

The present investigation conducted on 25 genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to assess the genetic divergence using Mahalonobis D2 analysis during rabi season of year 2021-22 and 2022-23. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for twelve characters under study. The genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters. It was showed that the cluster II comprises of highest 9 genotypes followed by cluster IV comprised 5 genotypes while, lowest genotypes were recorded in cluster I comprised 3 genotypes. The highest mean value was recorded in cluster V for days to 50% flowering, no. of primary branches per plant, fruit length, diameter of fruit, average fruit weight, fruit index, average yield per plant and fruit yield per hectare. Cluster II for plant height, plant spread and cluster I for no. of leaves per plant and number of fruit per plant respectively. The maximum intra-cluster distance was found in cluster V and minimum intra-cluster distance was recorded cluster III. The highest inter-cluster distance was recorded Cluster V with Cluster IV and the minimum inter-cluster D2 distance was recorded cluster III with Cluster II. The highest contribution in the manifestation of genetic divergence was exhibited by days to 50% flowering followed by plant height and minimum was found in fruit index.