Unveiling genetic variation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Lam.) using DUS Characteristics

Abstract: Tomatoes represent a highly diverse crop renowned for their nutritional properties and extensive cultivation. Their abundant reserves of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres, essential amino acids, and organic acids make them crucial nutrient sources across various contexts. Particularly noteworthy are their substantial levels of vitamin A and C, essential minerals, and pigments such as beta-carotene and lycopene, highlighting their biotechnological importance. The exploration of tomatoes’ genetic potential is essential for harnessing their inherent variability in breeding endeavours. In this present investigation, 27 distinct tomato parents and hybrids underwent principal component analysis (PCA) based on twenty diverse traits related to both yield and quality. The analysis identified eight principal components, collectively accounting for 80.4% of the variance. Constructing a bi-plot using the initial two principal components revealed that parents and hybrids CBESL160, CBESL164, CBESL168, H4xH5, H1xH5, and H5xH7 exhibited significant genetic divergence, dispersing across all quadrants. These genetic variations, categorized within PC1 and PC2, are potentially valuable additions to initiatives aimed at boosting crop yields through breeding efforts. Several traits, including growth habit, leaflet dimensions, fruit characteristics, and soluble solids content, demonstrated notable and statistically significant associations with yield per plant. Engaging Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering and PCA, parents and hybrids CBESL160, CBESL164, CBESL168, H4xH5, H1xH5, and H5xH7 emerged as the most diverse parents and hybrids, offering potential avenues for further advancements in breeding efforts.