Genetic variability and its hereditary components play a vital role in the selection of breeding material. A fundamental grasp of genetic diversity is essential for creating an superior variety. So, the F2 population of the cross Anagha and IIHR 2896 was evaluated for frequency distribution and genetic parameters. The frequency distribution of the F2 population showed positive skewness with platykurtic for all traits except number of days to first flowering and number of locules, which showed negative skewness and platykurtic distribution. Genetic variability results showed high GCV and PCV for traits like plant height, number of primary branches, plant spread, fruit weight, fruit volume, number of locules and fruit yield per plant. Higher heritability was recorded for all the traits whereas, high GAM was shown by all the traits except the number of days to first flowering and number days to first fruit harvest which showed low GAM. This indicates that the presence of high genetic variation, heritability and GAM for many characters will help in the improvement of those characters through direct and indirect selection.

GCV, PCV, GAM, Heritability, Skewness, Platykurtic distribution

Higher genetic variability is seen for plant height (cm), number of primary branches, plant spread (cm), number of fruits per plant, fruit weight (g), fruit volume (ml), number of locules and fruit yield per plant (kg). However same characters showed a high amount of heritability coupled with genetic advance as percent of mean, which indicates that there is a greater scope for improvement in these characters through selection.

Bhaskar Reddy S., Beena Thomas, Anand S., Ankitha M.O. and Byrapuram Arani Jyothi (2023). Evaluation of Genetic variability and Frequency Distribution in the F2 Segregating Population of Tomato Cross Anagha x IIHR 2896. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 111-115.