GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATIONSHIP STUDIES OF PURPLE TOMATO LINES BASED ON DIFFERENT HORTICULTURAL TRAITS WITH RESPECT TO CHECK GENOTYPES

Keeping in view the health benefits of Anthocyanin flavonoid and that traditional tomatoes don’t normally produce them, the study of genetic evaluation and characterization of novel breeding line-“purple tomato” genotypes are of relevant importance for nutritional security of consumers. This study aimed to characterize, evaluate as well as to establish the interrelationship between different important horticultural traits of purple tomato lines using suitable statistical tools with respect to checks to test the feasibility of commercialization of these new nutritionally rich genotypes of tomato. In this context, the present investigation was carried out with the 9 breeding lines of purple tomato, along with its two parental lines and two check genotypes (one popular cultivar and one multiple resistant hybrid) at Central Research Farm, Gayeshpur, B.C.K.V., Nadia, West Bengal during autumn-winter. The study revealed that wide variation was observed in the different traits, suggests segregation in different characters in the lines which needs to be stabilized through advancement of generations and subsequent selection. Analysis of Variance clearly showed the presence of wide genetic variability for the character concerned among the genotypes. The highest yielding purple tomato line was BCPT 7-4-4 (6.10 Kg fruit per plant). The study showed that 5 Purple tomato lines viz. BCPT 7-4-4, BCPT- 7-4-3, BCPT-7-4-2, BCPT 7-4-1, BCPT 7-1-3 significantly outclassed the popular hybrid and cultivar with respect to fruit weight. On the basis of correlation studies, the selection for number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness, polar diameter of fruit would be effective for developing plants with higher fruit yield in purple tomato. It was evident that Purple tomato lines can very well be placed as a line bred variety for commercial cultivation in competition with other line bred variety and even hybrids