Diversity Assessment Among Seventy-Four Potato Genotypes for Selection in Breeding Program

Abstract

Sustainable production of food crops relies on germplasm improvement and genetic diversity. In the present study, seventy-four potato genotypes were evaluated for diversity analysis during autumn 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at NARC, Islamabad. Our results showed significant diversity in qualitative traits with reference to skin color of five types (Red, yellowish, brown, light yellow, light brown skin color tubers=5), three types of flesh color (Yellow, cream and white flesh color tubers=3), three sizes of tubers (Medium, small and large size tubers=3) and four shape of tuber (Oval, round, oblong, elliptic= 4 shapes) and four different eyes color (Brown, light brown, dark red and yellow eyes color=4). Potato genotype under study had very high genetic variance for quantitative attributes including weight of tuber per plant and weight & number of tubers per lane, leaf area and plant height. Significant positive correlation was observed between number of tubers per plant (TPP) with number of eyes on tubers (r = 0.241) and number of tubers per lane (TPL) (r = 0.349). Plant height was found significantly positive correlated with leaf area (r= 0.456), germination percentage (r = 0.255) and weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.307). Leaf area (LA) showed positive significant correlation with number of tubers per plant (r = 0.466) and weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.263), yield and harvest index (r = 0.798, 0.755, 0.255). Weight of tubers per lane (WTL) showed positive correlation with weight of tubers per plant (r = 0.387). Regarding the interrelation between the traits and genotypes, the first two principal component axes (PC1, 24.83% and PC2, 23.46%) accounted for about 48.29% of the total variability reflecting the complexity of the variation between the plotted traits of genotypes. The present study will be useful for the precise selection for effective breeding program.