Genetic variability and association studies for yield and its attributes in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Sufficient genetic variability on the basis of various parameters of variability was recorded in 357 tetraploid potato genotypes, including varieties, advanced breeding lines and exotic germplasm. The estimates of heritability and genetic gain were found to be high for the number of stems per hill, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of leaflets per compound leaf, leaflet length, leaflet width, leaf length, leaf area, number of tubers per plant, tuber length, average tuber weight and average tuber yield per plant indicating the importance of additive gene action for the inheritance of these attributes. Correlation coefficient studies indicated the importance of the number of stems per hill, leaflet length, leaflet width, leaf width, tuber length, number of tubers per plant and average tuber weight, while path coefficient analysis directed to focus selection on the basis of average tuber weight and number of tubers per plant to develop high yielding potato varieties.