1Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, Meerut 250110, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India
3Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut 250 004, Uttar Pradesh, India
**Present address: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi 110 006, India
*CPRI Publication No. 1760
The present study was conducted to assess the genetic divergence (Mahalanobis D2) in 29 potato genotypes (parental lines) based on 20 characters and to find out relationship between genetic diversity and heterosis for tuber yield. Results showed that the parental lines though morphologically diverse had narrow genetic base and could be grouped into four clusters. Observed morphological diversity was not related to geographical as well as taxonomic diversity. Genetic divergence (D values) had a positive relationship with heterosis for tuber yield in the 120 progenies derived from 24 x 5 (line x tester) matings of the parents. Selection of parents based on genetic divergence followed by progeny test is suggested for effective exploitation of heterosis in potato breeding programmes.
