GENETIC AND AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF RAINFED TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) ACCESSIONS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

The extent of genetic variability among 19 accessions of tomato was studied using genetic variability parameters. Four-week old seedlings were transplanted in a well levelled field with 0.6 x 0.6 spacing and replicated three times in randomized complete block design. High significant differences among the accessions for all attributes studied. Cluster analysis based on 37 agro-morphological attributes separated accessions into two distinct groups according to the fruit types. Values for genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation showed variability among the accessions. Correlation analysis showed fruit/plant is positively and significantly correlated to plant height, number of branches/plant and leaf length. Very high genetic advance and heritability estimates for leaf length, leaf width, days to flower, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits/plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight and 1000 seed weight suggest simple inheritance system and thus amenability for these attributes to selection in tomato improvement.