Yield components of potato [Solanum tuberosum (L.)] and their relationship with tuber yield

Tuber yield in potato is a function of positive association of tuber related traits. Understanding the interplays of these traits is useful for a meaningful selection process and tuber yield improvement.

Field experiment was conducted in 2017-18 and 2018-19 dry seasons at Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano and Teaching and Research Farm of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil to assess the relationships of yield related characters and their contribution to-tuber yield in potato. Treatments comprised of five planting times (late October, early November, mid-November, late November and early December), two methods of propagation (whole seed and cut seed) and three plant densities (66,666; 43,333 and 33,333) per hectare. These were combined and laid down in an incomplete-block design; in fractional factorial using D-optimality criterion. Simple and partial correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationships, direct, indirect and combined contributions of the measured variables to tuber yield.

Tuber yield, average tuber weight (g), number of tubers per plant and marketable tuber were positively correlated to tuber yield. Significant but negative correlation between number of non-marketable tubers and tuber yield was also observed. The direct, indirect and combined contributions of average tuber weight (g), number of tubers per plant, number of marketable and non-marketable tubers indicated significant improvement in tuber yield.