Evaluation of Genetic Variability for Yield Traits amomg Six Genotypes of Nigeria Garden Egg (Solanum aethiopicum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the phenotypic and yield attributes of six garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum L.) accessions for the selection of desirable-traits which could be used for the crop improvement. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for the field experiment. Yield parameters such as number of fruits per plant, weight of fruits, number of seeds and weight of 100 seeds were investigated and scored using the standard procedures. Considerable variation in phenotypic traits such as fruit size, fruit shape, fruit surface, immature fruit colour and mature fruit colour were observed among the accessions. Fruit size ranges from small to medium, fruit surface from smooth to grooved and fruit colour ranges from red to brown. Significant variations (P<0.05) in yield attributes of the accessions were observed with accession NG/AO/06/12/193 having the highest fruit weight (13.33g) and number of seeds per fruit (273.80). The highest weight of 100 seeds (0.35g) was recorded in NHGB/09/138 and number of fruits per plant (87.00) in NHGB/09/100. The significant estimates of the phenotypic variations for all traits evaluated provide an indication that the selected accessions have an appreciable level of genetic variability. It was observed that there was a very high significant (P<0.01) correlation between the number of fruits per plant and number of seeds per fruit (-0.80) as well as number of fruits and weight of fruit (-0.75). Likewise coefficient of variation was significantly (P<0.01) high for weight of fruit and number of seeds per fruit (0.88). This observed variability for the yield parameters could play an important role in crop-breeding programme of the crop and will determine the limit of selection for yield improvement in the garden egg.