Principal component and non-hierarchial euclidean cluster analysis for genetic diversity in F₁C₂ population of potato

Diversification of potato breeding programmes with special attention to high yield, good quality, earliness and other characters, because of its great variation in agro-climates within Uttarakhand, encouraged the research to develop and evaluate new varieties from true potato seed. One hundred and twenty six F₁C₂ populations with four check varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were in nine blocks having 14 plots each. The genotypes were evaluated for the presence of genetic diversity using principal component and non-hierarchical cluster analysis. Total 96.1% variation was recorded between 12 principal components. First three components accounted for 52.45% of total variation. All the genotypes were classified into nine overlapping clusters based on agronomic and quality traits using non-hierarchial Euclidean cluster analysis, maximum inter cluster distance was found between cluster IV and V. Average tuber weight given the maximum relative contribution to total divergence followed by tuber yield, number of stems per plant and number of tuber per plant