Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

The genetic dissection of fruit traits in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) was conducted using an F2 population to assess the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance of key agronomic traits such as fruit size, weight, firmness, and yield per plant. The study identified significant genetic variation for all measured traits, with fruit weight and yield per plant showing high heritability (0.74 and 0.82, respectively) and genetic advance (19.6% and 15.8%, respectively). A significant positive correlation was observed between fruit size (diameter) and fruit weight (r = 0.86), while yield per plant was positively correlated with fruit weight (r = 0.72), suggesting that these traits are genetically linked. QTL mapping identified major loci associated with fruit weight and yield, with the highest LOD scores on chromosomes 4 and 2, respectively. The results highlight the potential for improving fruit weight and yield through selection, with fruit weight and yield being prime targets for marker-assisted breeding. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of high-yielding cherry tomato cultivars with improved fruit quality. The study also underscores the importance of integrating molecular markers for efficient breeding, enabling early selection for desirable traits. The genetic variability and heritability estimates observed in this study suggest that cherry tomato breeding programs can benefit from both conventional and molecular breeding techniques to enhance fruit quality and yield.